Embodied Austerity: Narratives of Early Austerity from a Homelessness and Resettlement Service

Daly, Angela

doi:10.1080/17496535.2017.1375134

Cited by 6 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…The results add to the existing literature which considers the impact of working within an increasingly inflexible and target-driven environment in the context of the austerity agenda and market-driven approaches to service provision (Banks, 2011; Renedo, 2014). In line with findings by Daly (2017), project workers’ identity as an advocate and helper was often compromised, through being placed in a position of deciding “deservedness” for limited resources; or not having the means to focus on residents’ emotional needs. Reynolds (2012) describes the “spiritual or ethical pain” prompted when practicing in accordance with one’s values is violated by the working context.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

“…In recent years the UK government’s austerity programme has become “embodied” in ethics and practices of care, impacting on relationships between workers and PEH (Daly, 2017). With budget cuts across the sector, market-driven approaches to service provision have led to practice guidance becoming increasingly inflexible, with “success” defined via output and targets (Renedo, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With budget cuts across the sector, market-driven approaches to service provision have led to practice guidance becoming increasingly inflexible, with “success” defined via output and targets (Renedo, 2014). Within this environment, project workers practice in a context of increased tension and pressure; one hand striving to manage the complexities and emotionally challenging nature of their caring role; and on the other navigating organisational pressures and controls (Daly, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Building connection against the odds: project workers relationships with people experiencing homelessness

Watson¹,

Nolte

Brown

2019

HCS

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Purpose Trusting and empathic relationships between project workers and people experiencing homelessness (PEH) form the cornerstone for their needs to be met. However, under the UK austerity agenda project workers practice in a context of increasing pressure and limited resources; with relationships often characterised by conditionality and disconnection. The purpose of this paper is to report on a study investigating project workers’ experiences of building relationships with PEH living in supported housing projects. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative design was employed in which focus groups were carried out in six projects, using an opportunity sample of 22 project workers. Data were analysed using thematic analysis, within a social constructionist epistemology. Findings Three main themes were identified: “Working hard to build connection”, “Supporting each other within an unsupportive context” and “Draining but sustaining”. Project workers acted out of strong value systems in building relationships with residents against a backdrop of systemic disconnection. Originality/value Clear clinical implications are put forward with in a Psychologically Informed Environment framework. Services supporting PEH need to be psychologically informed and organisations need to embed reflection within their policies and every day practice. In developing services for PEH interdependence not in/dependence needs to be the aim. Finally, the responsibility for improving the lives of PEH should be placed back on society to provide a context in which PEH can thrive.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Building connection against the odds: project workers relationships with people experiencing homelessness

Watson¹,

Nolte

Brown

2019

HCS

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“…In the contemporary neoliberal sociopolitical context, additional barriers related to attending to care and justice within community settings abound. Austerity measures and welfare reform both create severe limitations on budgeting for needed care, and create challenging and devaluing environments for workers in the care sector (Daly, 2018; Gist‐Mackey & Guy, 2019; Lydahl & Hansen Löfstrand, 2020). Furthermore, those interested in caring for individuals perceived as in need may rely on assumptions or stereotypes, particularly when aiming to work with communities of which one is not a part (Little, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“They really care about you, they really build relationships”: Care and justice in a community organization

Dutt

Toolis

Shi

et al. 2022

Anal Soc Iss & Public Policy

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Contemporary United States society is marked by exacerbated economic inequity and deep sociopolitical polarization, which increases a sense of precarity among marginalized communities. There is growing need to develop and foster practices that promote care and justice for marginalized communities. Organizational settings designed with the intent of supporting marginalized communities may possess unique knowledge related to actualizing care and promoting justice. Through analysis of ethnographic field notes and qualitative interviews conducted with 22 participants at the organization, this study examines organizational policies and practices of everyday decision-making at a drop-in center for women and gender non-conforming people in Washington State, USA. Findings document how policies and practices at the center promote care and justice for diverse marginalized groups. Implications for promoting equitable values in social settings more broadly are discussed.

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“…This paper addresses this call by exploring the impact of austerity policies in the homelessness field offers the perspectives of homelessness practitioners specifically in relation to the adverse impact of austerity and welfare reform on the well-being of homelessness practitioners (Daly, 2018). The analysis of the service providers’ data revealed that they have witnessed the structural violence of austerity that their clients face with the welfare system changes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A thematic analysis of homelessness practitioners’ perception of the impacts of welfare reforms in the UK: “Hard to maintain my own mental equilibrium”

De Oliveira

2023

HCS

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Purpose This paper aims to explore the lived experiences of key stakeholders working with homeless people during the implementation of universal credit during the austerity years. Design/methodology/approach The literature on austerity reveals welfare reforms’ impact on support services staff. Service providers’ perceptions of the impact of austerity-led policies and welfare reform via nine interviews with people working in homelessness organisations in Brighton and Hove in the UK. Service providers see the situation for their service users has gotten worse and that the policies make it more difficult to extricate themselves from their current situation. Three central themes relating to the impact of austerity-led welfare reforms were, namely, Universal Credit: the imposition of a precarious livelihood on welfare claimants; a double-edged sword: “If people are sanctioned: people can’t pay”; and “Hard to maintain my own mental equilibrium”. Findings More precisely, this paper captures service providers’ perceptions and experiences of the impact of austerity-led policies on their services and how they believe this, in turn, impacts their clients and their own lives. Research limitations/implications The dimension cuts across service provision to vulnerable people and is intertwined with health and well-being outcomes. Austerity is detrimental to the health of service users and their clients. It is known that when it comes to the health and well-being of the most vulnerable, who have suffered most from the impacts of austerity policies. However, in times of open austerity, it falls also on those trying to ease their suffering. Originality/value The data suggest that policies were developed and accentuated by austerity, which led to the stripping of welfare support from vulnerable people. This process has impacted the people who rely on welfare and service providers.

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Embodied Austerity: Narratives of Early Austerity from a Homelessness and Resettlement Service

Abstract: The version presented here may differ from the published version or from the version of the record. Please see the repository URL above for details on accessing the published version and note that access may require a subscription.

Cited by 6 publications

References 26 publications

Building connection against the odds: project workers relationships with people experiencing homelessness

Building connection against the odds: project workers relationships with people experiencing homelessness

“They really care about you, they really build relationships”: Care and justice in a community organization

A thematic analysis of homelessness practitioners’ perception of the impacts of welfare reforms in the UK: “Hard to maintain my own mental equilibrium”

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