Abstract
The aim of this article is to develop theory and generate knowledge about the challenges and possibilities of co‐producing change in a social housing programme. The purpose of the project was to implement the Housing First philosophy in the social housing programme in the city of Helsingborg, Sweden. The aim was also to create opportunities for service user involvement. Several innovative measures were implemented in order for these changes to occur from autumn 2016 to summer 2017. The social services commissioned a university course on which social workers and their clients studied together on equal terms to create project plans for the further development of their own workplace. A “Future” workshop was held by the researchers with representatives from all the different housing options (the shelter, transitional housing, category housing, Housing First apartments), both clients and social workers. Repeated dialogue meetings were conducted at the different housing options to discuss how service user involvement could be developed and to discover new ways of participation. This article is based on a strengths‐based perspective using the theoretical discussions on social traps, as well as the concepts of enabling and entrapping niches. We show the importance of social workers identifying and supporting missing heroes—service users who want to participate and be involved in co‐producing change. We also show that if an organisation is not prepared for the initiated changes, there is a risk of disappointment due to awakened expectations that are not fulfilled. Building trust is also an important component to emerge from the material, but we also found that change processes can be initiated that continue and have impact beyond the initial project’s goals.
Highlights
Homelessness is a growing social problem in most European countries
When we look at the outcome of the different measures, they all created enabling niches
The results suggest that the potential of enabling niches lies in between cross‐sectoral collaborations rather than within specific services
Summary
Homelessness is a growing social problem in most European countries. The number of people experiencing homelessness is much higher in Sweden than the other Nordic countries (Benjaminsen et al, 2020; Knutagård et al, 2020). The prob‐ lem is that when people start to distrust each other, the risk of ending up in a social trap rather than a collabora‐ tive change process is present. This elucidates the rela‐ tionship between trust and social traps. The missing hero could be the same person, because if the context is not right, the person will not participate (Platt, 1973) The reason for this depends on whether the person believes that other people will get involved in the change pro‐ cess and whether the environment can be seen as an enabling niche rather than a niche that is entrapping. One challenge is that those action programmes or inter‐ ventions that are intended to cater for marginalised groups tend to be niches that are entrapping rather than enabling
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
