Vulnerable homeless or the homeless as vulnerable? : Framing of homelessness in English legislation and the gatekeeping of resources for homelessness eradication
The impact of political strategies aimed to reduce and eradicate homelessness are shaped by the ways in which we conceptualise the problem itself. This study aims to analyse the framing in which the homeless are considered vulnerable in order to uncover possible ways in which this allows for gatekeeping of solutions for homelessness eradication. Building on existing research, the study aims to highlight the dominant problematisations of homelessness and the limitations that they pose on provision of services by local authorities in England. The study focuses on the changes between the newly introduced legislation of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2018 and the Housing Act of 1996 in order to highlight naturalised narratives on homelessness that have been reinforced, and possible shifts in framing that allow for possible change. Analysis of the accompanying code of guidance policy documents using the What is the problem represented to be? methodology allows to compare the framing of homelessness and the proposed solutions in order to better understand whether policy changes creating increasingly accessible service provision or remains selective in whom it helps. The results indicate that the legislative change has widened the parameters of who is to be considered vulnerable; and there is a shift in focus towards prevention allowing for more people to access services. However, the continued use of categorisation and assessment of the homeless on basis of vulnerability, localisation and focus on intentionality of homelessness ultimately maintains gatekeeping of resources. The results indicate possible narratives which may allow for shifts in problematisation of homelessness especially during the current COVID-19 crisis which has created unprecedented shift in homelessness strategies. Further research is necessary to understand better resilience of the legislation during crisis, and how to shift narratives on homelessness into empowering and inclusive instruments
