Self-managed programmes in homeless care as (reinvented) institutions

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Sociology
• Organizational Studies

Background:

• Self-managed homeless programs emerged as an alternative to traditional shelters.
• Institutional theory provides a framework for understanding organizational structures and practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore stakeholder experiences within the institutional aspects of self-managed homeless programs.
• To analyze how institutional contexts influence self-management in homeless care settings.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal participatory case study of a self-managed homeless shelter (JES).
• Analysis of 56 open and semi-structured interviews using systematic coding and interpretation.
• Involvement of participants in all research stages.

Main Results:

• Similarities to regular shelters were observed due to institutional commonalities, including shared spaces and rule enforcement discussions.
• Participants reported a lack of private space but experienced greater freedom in personal life choices and shelter management.
• Shelter structures were perceived as more fluid, with some elements stimulating self-management.

Conclusions:

• The institutional context significantly influences the self-management capabilities within homeless programs.
• Opportunities exist to integrate freedom and fluidity into institutional care models to improve resident self-management.