Digging Deeper: Considering the Marginalizing Experience of Homelessness in Developing Program Performance Objectives

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-19-2020

Publication Title

Public Performance and Management Review

First page number:

1

Last page number:

22

Abstract

Engaging citizens in performance work can be difficult and resource-intensive and may yield few instrumental benefits. Some argue it is still beneficial for democratic purposes as it enables government to be more responsive to community preferences and needs. This paper argues there is an additional layer to understanding citizen preferences that involves connecting citizens’ lived experiences to their perspectives on performance objectives. This research explores this topic in the context of citizens with the lived experience of homelessness. Interviews with formerly homeless individuals and with professional administrators working in the affordable housing and homelessness fields reveal these citizens and administrators often assign different meanings to performance objectives associated with permanent supportive housing programs. In addition, findings indicate the stigma associated with being homeless, the lack of safety while homeless, and the lack of control over one’s life while homeless inform citizen perspectives on performance objectives.

Keywords

Citizen engagement; Homelessness; Marginalized citizens; Performance measurement

Disciplines

Civic and Community Engagement | Community-Based Research | Community Psychology

Language

English

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