Community Problem Solving Around Homelessness: The Social Construction of Consensus

Abstract

Consensus, a central concept in community development theory and practice, provides the frame of reference for a case study of one city's efforts to cope with homelessness. A conceptual model views consensus as a continuous–as opposed to a dichotomous–phenomenon whose status at any moment is a function of four determinants: (1) the processes employed to achieve consensus, (2) the salience of maintaining consensus to the participants, (3) the baseline status of consensus as interaction commences, and (4) the surrounding political and public opinion environment. The case study recounts how the emergence of homelessness led to a negotiated agreement to embark on a lengthy planning process. Ultimately fraught with dissension between advocates for the homeless and city officials, that process, nevertheless, did yield a plan–most of which was implemented. This retrospective analysis offers lessons about the workings of consensus and a number of techniques for maintaining consensus throughout the community development process.