Transcript The Politics of Homelessness or, The Road to Hell: why

The Politics of Homelessness
or, The Road to Hell: why good
intentions are not enough
Dr. Stephanie Witt
Professor of Public Policy and
Administration
© 2012 Boise State University
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Homelessness is a “wicked problem”
© 2012 Boise State University
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Some characteristics of wicked problems
• There is no definitive formulation of a wicked
problem
• Wicked problems have no stopping rule
• Solutions to wicked problems are not true-orfalse, but good-or-bad
• Every wicked problem can be considered to be
a symptom of another problem
Horst W.J. Rittel and Melvin M. Webber “Dilemmas in a General Theory of Planning,” Policy Sciences (1973).
© 2012 Boise State University
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Wicked problems require collaboration
Federal
agencies
State
agencies
Homelessness
City
governments
Nonprofits
and FBOs
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Collaboration=goat rodeo
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Goat Rodeo
• A chaotic situation, often one that involves
several people, each with a different
agenda/vision/perception of what's going on;
a situation that is very difficult, despite energy
and efforts, to instill any sense or order into
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When collaborations fail
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Services to clients are cut
Bad feelings result
Lawsuits are filed
Duplication of efforts
Confusion among clients and donors
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What makes collaborations work?
• Governance: Who makes decisions? How are
costs and benefits distributed?
• Administration: clear roles and
responsibilities, good communication
• Autonomy of each participant protected
• Mutuality of interests shared by participants
• Trust and reciprocity: the participants trust
each other
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Mission control
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Mission un-control
• HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable,
inclusive communities and quality affordable
homes for all.
• Boise Rescue Mission Ministries reaches out to
the community by teaching the word of God and
providing food, shelter, clothing, counseling, and
education for the homeless and others in need
• IDHW: to promote and protect the health and
safety of Idahoans.
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Accountability
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Accountability : what’s driving you?
$ Audits
God
Board of Directors
Performance Audits
Diocese/Stake
Donors
Public hearings
Souls saved
Grantors
Public records
Members gained
Clients
Elected officials
Existing members
Citizens
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Timing is everything: fiscal years
Fed: Oct 1
Jan. 1 (53%)
State: July 1
July 1 (20%)
City: Oct 1
Other (27%)
????
County:
http://leadnet.org/blog/post/73_of_surveyed_churches_expect_to_meet_budget13
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Time horizons
Electoral cycle
Eternity?
Board
appointments
Fund drives
Grant duration
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Effective collaborators
– Shift from command and control to cooperation
and persuasion
– Understand the factors driving the point of view of
the other participants
– Understand that collaboration will take more time
than doing something on one’s own
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Stephanie Witt, Professor
Email [email protected]
THANK YOU
© 2012 Boise State University
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