The Importance of Theory

Joanne Neales article Homelessness and Theory Reconsidered examines the issue of homelessness from the perspective of theory. She looks at how homelessness is defined, how causes are attri uted and what solutions are presented from the various theoretical perspectives to improve social policy and provision of aid to those who are homeless. Thou!h she is workin! in the "nited #in!dom, the theories presented are applica le in understandin! homeless in $ritish %olum ia. The key point is that the exploration of a theoretical asis to homelessness is essential to roaden our understandin! and improve the effectiveness of social research, policy development, and provision evaluation. She does not propose an overarchin! theory, ut rather descri es a variety of theories that can e used interdependently. &n $ritish %olum ian policy and dominant ideolo!y we can see threads of what Neale refers to as 'existin! theories. There is tension etween work to address the structural factors and the policies that place responsi ility on the pro lems of the individual. (any approaches to solvin! homelessness focus on the structural provision of housin! and services. &t is reco!ni)ed that more afforda le housin! units are needed as well as services to support mental health and addiction issues. $ut the theoretical underpinnin! of this approach continues to evaluate the need as an individual*s pro lem and that the provision of services will e enou!h to rin! a out chan!e. &t i!nores the idea of a sociolo!ical ima!ination that would look for the underlyin! factors and social forces at work that make some people more at risk of homelessness than others. +ookin! throu!h the sociolo!ical lens allows for policies and action that address root causes on a roader scale. The focus on individual need also rin!s with it an ideolo!y of individual responsi ility, and an evaluation of who deserves assistance. ,e can see this stron!ly in $% welfare policies that have ecome more restrictive, and more difficult to apply for. -s an alternative theoretical approach Neale offers a view of homelessness throu!h the lens of feminism, post structuralism, post modernism, structuration and critical theory. Thou!h some of these may seem to e in conflict with each other, the importance is to use the theories in a way that they work to inform each other. The feminist lens rin!s a critical look at the pu lic factors of ine.uality in pu lic policy, law, employment practices and cultural ideolo!ies. /ost0structural and postmodern approaches expand the construction to rin! in the idea that there is no sin!le oppressive force, nor sin!le solution and that the issues must e examined relatively. These theories also aid in developin! a lan!ua!e that can e used in workin! on the issues. Structuration and critical theory work to inte!rate the dichotomy of the structure versus individual tension. They reco!ni)e the a!ency of people to effect chan!e, especially the empowerment of homeless people to act and

resist. %ritical theory in particular encoura!es the development of solutions throu!h open and informed discussions within the diverse ran!e of parties and perspectives. "nderstandin! and incorporatin! a theoretical asis in the research and policy work is a critical step in rin!in! a out sustaina le and effective chan!e.
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