Considering the legitimacy of homeless hostels as sites of discipline and regulation

Mahoney, I ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0313-3418, 2019. Considering the legitimacy of homeless hostels as sites of discipline and regulation. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 39 (3/4), pp. 250-263. ISSN 0144-333X

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Abstract

Design/methodology/approach: The research draws upon in-depth qualitative interviews and supplementary observations undertaken in two homeless hostels in Stoke-on-Trent.

Findings: The research finds that even the most benign interventions enacted in homeless hostels are infused with disciplinary and regulatory techniques and suggests that the author needs to consider the legitimacy and efficacy of such approaches when seeking to understand the role of the hostel in assisting residents in (re)developing their autonomy.

Research limitations/implications: While there are legitimate reasons for the deployment of such techniques in some cases, legitimacy can be undermined where expectations go unmet or where developing residents’ and service user’s needs are not necessarily the main object of the interventions.

Practical implications: Hostel providers need to consider the ethicality and legitimacy of the interventions in place when seeking to help service users and residents to (re)develop their autonomy and ensure that efforts are focused in an effective and meaningful way.

Social implications: Homeless people are among the most vulnerable and excluded in society. The paper seeks to draw attention to the disciplinary and regulatory techniques to which they are subject in order to ensure that approaches employed to support homeless individuals have a clear, ethical and legitimate basis.

Originality/value: The research draws upon original data collected as part of a doctoral research project into wider experiences of unemployment.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy
Creators:	Mahoney, I.
Publisher:	Emerald
Date:	2 April 2019
Volume:	39
Number:	3/4
ISSN:	0144-333X
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1108/IJSSP-10-2018-0174 DOI
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Jonathan Gallacher
Date Added:	18 Dec 2018 09:17
Last Modified:	07 Jun 2022 09:29
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/35362

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