- Title
- Service user and provider perspectives on services for the homeless in Jamaica: implications for social work practice and policy development
- Creator
- Porter, Shauna K.
- Relation
- University of Newcastle Research Higher Degree Thesis
- Resource Type
- thesis
- Date
- 2018
- Description
- Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Description
- Homelessness is a growing concern worldwide. Globalisation, international terrorism, natural and human-made disasters, and civil and political strife contribute to one billion people existing in inadequate housing and an estimated 100 million homeless. These present opportunities and challenges for nations that lack the resources and political will to develop and implement efficient evidenced-based responses to homelessness. Amid this, homeless service users are experiencing failure in most care systems with limited involvement in policy, service, research, and planning in comparison to other socioeconomic groups, despite some positive experiences. The research capturing their views and experiences remain inadequate, especially in developing countries. Service providers, on the other hand, grapple with the tensions created through the infiltration of their service cultures by neoliberal ideologies, commodification and economic efficiencies, and their identities, professional ethics, and training. A similar picture exists in the West Indies as the Jamaican Government attempts to stem the tide of homelessness through a social protection system ideologically rooted in British social policy. Despite several reform initiatives, increasing numbers of people are becoming homeless, as social protection seems to be failing. Consequently, the government has been criticised for its lack of flexibility and willingness to grasp policy learning opportunities. It has failed to democratise the policy agenda by creating participatory processes through which to develop evidenced-based and contextually sound policy solutions that speak to the reality of homeless individuals. Using the theories of social justice, human rights, human capabilities, and social constructionism as the overarching framework, this study critically analysed the Jamaican government’s response to homelessness. It examined the views of homeless service users and providers on homelessness services and policy development using a qualitative research design. Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 21 participants (10 homeless service users and 11 homeless service providers) from the Kingston Metropolitan Area, Jamaica. The data was analysed using a combination of manual and computer-assisted techniques. There was consensus among participants that the government’s response to homelessness was ineffective and largely divorced from the realities of homeless individuals. Eight key themes emerged from this study: lack of trust within the homelessness network; unequal power and exclusion; unsafe and insecure service environment; stakeholder apathy; division and fragmentation in the homelessness service sector; poor strategising; absence of homelessness policy; and weak leadership and management. Strong similarities were seen between participants for the first five themes indicated, while the latter three revealed differences. Key solutions included a critical review of the strategic plan and organisational structure governing the homelessness response; robust multidisciplinary research; the implementation of evidence-based policies and homelessness legislation; inclusion, advocacy, and representation of homeless individuals; and training and recruitment of competent staff. Providers, especially social workers, must first find their voice and, as a collective, seek to deconstruct contemporary social arrangements in Jamaica that prevent parity of participation for homeless individuals. In so doing, providers should advocate with, and on the behalf of, homeless individuals for the development of policy and legislation to protect their rights and improve their overall quality of life.
- Subject
- homelessness; Jamaica; homeless service users and service providers; policy; social work
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1395149
- Identifier
- uon:33822
- Rights
- Copyright 2018 Shauna K. Porter
- Language
- eng
- Full Text
- Hits: 790
- Visitors: 1727
- Downloads: 1054
| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | ATTACHMENT01 | Thesis | 11 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download | ||
| View Details Download | ATTACHMENT02 | Abstract | 233 KB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |