Homelessness Prevention Policy: A Case Study

Although serious and long‐term commitment to homelessness prevention is evident in some countries in the form of primary prevention measures, it is not clear whether a strong shift has already been made from secondary to primary prevention. It is argued here that after almost two decades of literature regarding the ‘prevention turn’ in homelessness policy, one may speak of primary prevention in the prevention stage, and add secondary and tertiary prevention to each of the other three stages of homelessness policy – early, emergency, and long‐term intervention strategies. Yet, there must be an attempt at primary prevention, which is more difficult to maintain, mainly for financial reasons. Political will is one key to success in doing this. Homelessness prevention policies are explained in this article using the case study of Israel's policies in 1948–2010. The findings indicate that Israel dealt with a high risk of homelessness in the 1950s and again in the 1990s through primary homelessness prevention by intervening in the housing market and providing cash assistance. Subsequently, after an overall homelessness policy was first published in Israel in 1996, prevention almost disappeared. However, it seems that, since then, prevention still manifests itself in the form of secondary prevention measures, such as public assistance benefits and housing subsidies. Tertiary prevention also seems to exist, addressing the more entrenched nature of homelessness by means of permanent supportive housing. This article shows that where there is a will there may be a way for prevention.     

Single Homelessness as Social Exclusion: The Unique and the Extreme

Recent research into single homelessness and rough sleeping has begun to consider the issue using the concepts and the language of social exclusion. This paper considers the new literature and what it may mean in terms of changing our understanding of single homelessness and rough sleeping (called street homelessness in the United States). The paper begins by reviewing the concept of social exclusion and the recent literature on single homelessness and drawing associations between the analysis of social exclusion and the emerging academic work on the nature of single homelessness and rough sleeping. Drawing on this literature, it is argued that single homelessness needs to be reconceptualized and viewed as one of the products generated by the process of social exclusion. The paper concludes with the argument that single homelessness and rough sleeping are a form of social exclusion, characterized chiefly by the inability of a section of the socially excluded population to get access to welfare services and social housing, and that homelessness does not actually exist as a discrete social problem with unique characteristics and causes.     

Interconnections among Homelessness,Family Separation,and Mental Health: Implications for Multi-Sectoral Social Services

This qualitative study explored the interconnections among the phenomena of homelessness, family separation, and mental health and substance abuse issues within the social services, geographic, and infrastructure context of northern Ontario. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirteen participants. Findings revealed the effects of colonization in the form of poor and overcrowded housing conditions in the northern First Nations, difficulties in obtaining affordable and suitable housing in northern towns and cities, reliance on the scarce social services for survival, and valiant attempts to cope with the cold climate of northern Ontario. All participants reported multiple and intergenerational experiences of separation from family due to involvement of child welfare system, placement in residential schools, death of family member(s), flooding, and epidemics. Participants described their lifelong struggles with mental health and substance abuse issues. All three phenomena were tied together in various configurations of causes and consequences. The implications include the need for critical examination of the historical policies and practices, early intervention for mental health and substance abuse issues, greater support for youth transitioning out of care, creation of a continuum of housing options, collaboration across multiple social services sectors, and incorporation of Indigenous worldview and practices in the mainstream services.     

Estimating the Prevalence of Hard-to-Reach Populations: The Illustration of Mark-Recapture Methods in the Study of Homelessness

This paper assesses the potential of mark-recapture methods as a relatively powerful innovative research method for estimating the prevalence of "hard-to-reach"human populations in the social welfare field. We outline the development of mark-recapture methods, illustrating some recent applications. The body of the paper reviews the main methodological and practical questions raised by the method. We suggest, by way of illustration, how it might be applied to estimating the prevalence of rough sleepers in a given geographical region.     

Homelessness in Europe and the United States: A Comparison of Prevalence and Public Opinion

Random samples of 250–435 adults were interviewed by telephone in five different nations ( N = 1,546): Belgium, Germany, Italy, the UK, and the United States. The interview included questions on respondent attitudes, knowledge, and opinions regarding homelessness; respondents' own personal experiences with homelessness and homeless people; and demographic characteristics of the respondents. The highest rates for lifetime literal homelessness were found in the UK (7.7%) and United States (6.2%), with the lowest rate in Germany (2.4%), and intermediate rates in Italy (4.0%) and Belgium (3.4%). Less compassionate attitudes toward the homeless were also found on many dimensions in the United States and the UK. Possible explanations of these findings, drawn from various theoretical perspectives, and policy implications are provided .     

转轨时期国有经济退出路径的变迁--由体制内主动退出到体制外被动退出

国有经济的退出路径有两条体制内的主动退出和体制外的被动退出.在转轨时期,国有经济体制内的主动退出面临着重重的壁垒,相对于体制内的主动退出而言,体制外的被动退出是一条最优的路径.体制外被动退出是由国有经济目标函数变化内生决定的,是渐进式改革的必然结果.     

汇率制度退出与转型：文献综述

如何退出已有汇率制度安排,向更具弹性的汇率制度转型？这是当前新兴市场和发展中国家面临的一个重要问题。在维持已有制度的边际成本与边际收益一致时退出已有汇率制度是最优的。最佳退出时机的经验判断原则取决于该国的经济结构、经济发展阶段、经济冲击、政治与制度因素等。这些因素同时也决定了该国汇率制度退出和转型的策略选择。汇率制度转型所需的基本条件是：一个具有一定深度和一定流动性的外汇市场,一套连贯的中央银行外汇市场干预的政策措施,一个恰当的名义锚,监测和管理公共部门和私人部门外汇风险暴露的有效机制。     

激励性规制理论与实践研究新进展

激励性规制尤其是价格上限规制是当今西方国家运用最为普遍的的规制方法.虽然传统的规制理论在定价等方面取得较大发展,但是并没有直接的涉及激励问题.规制目的在于激励企业降低成本、提高效率,并促进社会福利的最大化.激励性规制理论下的价格上限规制取代了传统规制理论下的回报率规制,从生产效率、成本效率、投资三个角度归纳总结激励性规制的实践效果,尤其在激励企业降低成本方面取得明显的成效.     

企业社会责任与财务绩效不确定性关系研究:一个分析框架

企业社会责任与财务绩效之间的关系一直是学术界与企业界所关注的一个热点问题,但自该问题提出至今,并未得出一致性结论.从理论研究和实证研完两方面对以往研究进行了分析梳理,归纳出导致研究结论不一致的三方面原因,即社会责任内涵界定不清晰、研究方法及模型构建存在缺陷,同时提出了一个两者关系的解释模型,并指出今后研究中应注重时影响两者关系的相关变量及限制条件进行界定.     

Methods for Studying the Structure of Social Representations: A Critical Review and Agenda for Future Research

This article deals with the methodologies commonly used in the framework of the structural approach to social representations. It concerns free and hierarchical evocations, the characterization questionnaire, the similarity analysis, the basic cognitive schemes model, the attribute‐challenge technique and the test of context independence. More than a simple review of these methodologies, it offers a critical approach concerning the problems encountered and related to: thresholds or “cutoff points” used to diagnose the structure (core vs. periphery) and the accuracy of the structural diagnosis, grouping methods employed to reduce the corpus of verbal associations, the dilemma between reliability and feasibility, especially in field research, the adequacy and number of modalities of response in the framework of the structural diagnosis. Following this evaluation, this article suggests potential solutions to overcome these methodological limitations. Moreover, as methodological issues are closely related to theoretical questions, the link between social representation theory and identity approaches is discussed.     

低保对象为何退保难?动态分析策略下的退保模式及其变迁趋势研究

本文基于民政部2014年“中国城乡困难家庭社会政策支持系统建设”调查的数据，运用事件史分析方法，对城市低保接受时长和退保影响因素进行探究。研究发现，低保对象的救助接受时间呈现明显的长期化特点，但随着低保接受时间的延长，低保对象退保风险会逐渐上升。这与“时间依赖论”关于长期化救助接受会逐渐弱化救助对象工作伦理，进而造成救助退出可能性逐步下降的理论预设恰好相反，说明中国城市低保对象退保难与工作积极性下降无关。进一步的研究发现，弱势化的低保人口构成及就业救助服务缺失是长期低保接受的重要原因。此外，中国的非正规就业结构也对退保构成显著的不利影响，不过，该影响随着时代的发展在不断减弱。     

The Purposeful Use of Performance in Groups: A New Look at the Balance of Task and Process

ABSTRACT

This paper explores the purposeful use of performance in an arts-based activity group that is rooted in social group work. It identifies the presence of three interconnected purposes: (1) a skill-acquisition purpose, (2) a performance-based purpose, and (3) a socioemotional purpose. This three-fold purpose introduces certain challenges throughout the life of the group, including the worker's negotiation of her role and the balance of task and process. The paper also discusses the benefits of the task-oriented goal of performance in the context of social group work. Illustrations from a co-ed pre-adolescent dance group are provided throughout the paper.     

The Cycle of Bias in Health Research: A Framework and Toolbox for Critical Appraisal Training

Recognizing bias in health research is crucial for evidence-based decision making. We worked with eight community groups to develop materials for nine modular, individualized critical appraisal workshops we conducted with 102 consumers (four workshops), 43 healthcare providers (three workshops), and 33 journalists (two workshops) in California. We presented workshops using a “cycle of bias” framework, and developed a toolbox of presentations, problem-based small group sessions, and skill-building materials to improve participants' ability to evaluate research for financial and other conflicts of interest, bias, validity, and applicability. Participant feedback indicated that the adaptability of the toolbox and our focus on bias were critical elements in the success of our workshops.     

构建贫困弱势群体医疗救助体系的探析

改革开放以来,我国经济社会取得了长足发展。与此同时,各个群体产生利益分化和群体分化,形成了贫困弱势群体。由于缺乏必要的医疗保障。贫困弱势群体看病贵、看病难问题已经成为经济社会可持续发展的障碍,进而成为构建和谐社会的障碍。本文将对其医疗保障的现状进行描述,分析缺乏医疗保障的成因,提出针对贫困弱势群体的医疗保障问题,需要建立一个多层次的医疗救助体系。     

日美金融危机治理对策的比较

2008年秋季,以美国次贷危机深化为发端,一场罕见的金融危机席卷全球。危机不仅引发金融市场的动荡,而且对实体经济也造成沉重打击。美国政府采取了一系列危机治理对策,这些救市政策同日本当年的政策颇为相似,但又有所不同。对照上世纪90年代日本政府在金融危机治理方面的经验教训,或许对预见美国政府危机治理政策的效果具有一定的借鉴意义。     

The HOPE Family Project: A Family-Based Group Intervention to Reduce the Impact of Homelessness on HIV/STI and Drug Risk Behaviors

The HOPE Family Project (HIV Prevention for Parents and Early Adolescents) is an eight- session, family-based group intervention modeled on three evidence-based curricula targeting HIV/AIDS and alcohol and drug abuse prevention. The design and implementation of the HOPE Family Project was carried out by an established community collaborative board. The project aims to educate and provide tailored support to families and their youth (ages 11–14), residing in homeless shelters, regarding HIV and alcohol abuse prevention. The group model proved successful in offering an informal social support network for families living in homeless shelters and improving family functioning and youth mental health outcomes.     

“中产阶级”研究：疑问与探源

中产阶级研究源远流长,马克思主义对中产阶级的研究开创了社会学意义上的中产阶级研究。虽在马克思恩格斯以前,已经有哲学家、经济学家、历史学家和空想社会主义者使用过中产阶级概念或对中产阶级进行过讨论,但第一个从社会学意义上对中产阶级进行研究的是恩格斯而不是马克思。马克思恩格斯研究的中产阶级不能完全等同于今天学者们研究的中产阶级,而且财产状况和财产关系并非马克思恩格斯划分中产阶级的唯一标准,阶级意识、政治与社会地位及文化心理都被马克思恩格斯纳入中产阶级研究的范围。     

中华帝国治理的“不可能三角”与治乱周期:从“风险论”出发

本文由曹正汉提出的“风险论”出发,以威权政体政权存续的理论视角,探究中国治乱周期与统治者风险治理策略之间的关系,以及在治乱之间,统治者透过何种机制调节动态平衡以维系政权,又为何调节风险平衡机制在某些时候能奏效在另一时点上却失灵。藉由历史制度主义的时序分析,本文提出风险治理的“不可能三角”,以解释治乱周期的波动,并发现风险调节机制之所以越到朝代后期越难奏效,肇因于开朝初期统治者为防制政变风险所采取的政治吸纳策略。这些策略随着时间演化及一连串反应序列后,破坏了统治者用来防治民变及外患风险的机制,并进一步弱化了国家的基础权力,导致国家能力下降,风险平衡机制失灵,从而陷入统治危机。