Challenging charitable oppression: Social working in supportive housing

Abstract

Abstract This article provides an autoethnographic analysis of my experiences of administrating and supporting transitional housing programs in Canada. Using anti-colonial, critical race feminist, critical disability studies, and mad studies framings, the article aims to highlight the sharp contrast between social work values and social care practice in housing work. I direct my gaze as a researcher toward myself as a social worker, exploring my experience social working in practice. A creative non-fiction approach to storytelling is used based directly on my experiences social working in supportive housing. These creative non-fiction pieces were analysed to draw out relevant themes. Themes include the discourse of dangerousness, challenging charitable oppression, and reproducing colonial carceral structures. The narratives are followed by analyses which demonstrate harms perpetuated in the neoliberalist social care landscape in Canada. My analysis is based on anti-colonial, critical race feminist, critical disability studies, and mad studies framings. Challenges discussed include interdisciplinary social care practice with those experiencing significant barriers to housing and the ethical implications of working under a charitable organization, along with suggestions for countering dominant ableist, sanist, and Eurocentric practice.