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Housing and Homelessness Action Plan 2021–2025 Ideologies
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Dare
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Housing and Homelessness Action Plan 2021–2025 Ideologies
Various social welfare ideologies guide the development of social policies. According to
Mary Daly (2011, p. 13), 'welfare' is related to individuals "who receive public support."
Therefore, policies in housing are mainly made to help or protect the most vulnerable. The term
welfare can change based on people's understanding of the concept, timeline, and region. Social
policies are aimed at improving the well-being of people and can be guided by various political
ideologies, like socialism. The paper will analyze the ideologies in the promotion of the-Housing
and Homelessness Action Plan 2021–2025 in Queensland.
History of Homeless Policy in Australia
Key Changes in the Early 20th Century:
In the early 20th century, there was little government regulation, and nonprofit
organizations mostly treated homelessness. Conservative ideologies of helping one another
formed the basis of social welfare activities. After World War II, there was increased government
intervention through the implementation of public housing schemes. However, the policies were
primarily aimed at dealing "with older, alcoholic men living on 'skid row'" (Reid et al., 2005p.
389). As explained by Macintyre (2018), the Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement,
established in 1945, required each state to notify the treasurer of the commonwealth about
housing project programs that were to run every three-month interval. By the end of the 20th
century, homelessness has been recognized as a significant social concern. In 1985, the federal,
state, and territory governments collaborated to establish the Supported Accommodation
Assistance Program (SAAP), which provided social assistance for homeless people. As defined
by McClelland (2020), the policies were aimed at improving the well-being of individuals,
primarily after being left in a vulnerable position. Likewise, the beginning of the 21st century
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saw the development of various social changes, such as the promotion of the National
Homelessness Strategy and the 2008 white paper that created a road map for ending poverty. The
National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH) offered funds for state and territory
programs. To fund state and territory initiatives. Implementation of numerous state-based
programs, such as the Queensland Housing Strategy, has become more evident.
Key Social and Political Drivers:
Economic Factors
Homelessness has been previously caused by various economic challenges, including
joblessness and harsh economic times, making the affordability of housing challenging. In a poor
economic climate, more people are on the brink of homelessness; therefore, there is a need for
governments to invest more money in social housing and shelter and offer funding to family
support programs (Spies-Butcher, 2014). According to Esping-Andersen, the welfare state is a
political strategy to advance social citizenship by eradicating poverty and providing for special
needs (Spies-Butcher, 2014).
Social Awareness
Non-governmental organizations and the general public have played a great role in
enhancing public awareness of issues related to homelessness, thus putting more pressure on
governments to handle the problem efficiently. According to McClelland (2020), social policy
are promoted by acts of social activism. Activists, charitable organizations, and the media have
worked hard to raise awareness about the homeless and to, draw support for them and create
better and more extensive policies to deal with their suffering.
Political Will
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Shifts in government ideologies have dramatic impacts on the direction and the number
of investments made in homeless policies. This means that state commitment to social well-being
may lead to the development of new programs and enhanced funding. The political will can also
be driven by the need to respond to the changing needs of populations. For instance, the high
population boom and migration to cities that occurred within the 20th century allowed the
government to rethink its policing actions to address the high level of homelessness observed in
cities.
Ideological influences
Liberal Pluralism
Liberal pluralism aims to guarantee the freedom of choice. As cited by Fenna (2013), new
liberal champions for the government to provide resources to allow individuals the freedom to
make something of their lives. Action Plan 2017-2020 allows the promotion of resources to assist
people in accessing housing through the private rental market. Therefore, the housing policy built
on this would mean empowering the population to ensure they have autonomy in having their
own houses.
Liberal Revolution
According to Fenna (2013), liberalism is built on the concept of "Western civilization,"
where liberal values are based on logical justification rather than the concept of traditions. For
instance, the promotion of the Housing and Homelessness Action Plan 2021–2025 is based on
the legal justification of social justice rather than the cultural values of helping others.
Socialism
Queensland is delivering social housing designed to follow the ideology of socialism.
Socialism encourages the formation of housing policies through state mechanisms that regulate
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the availability of the resources to be used communally. Socialists support collective
proprietorship of taxes to allow the building of social houses.
Similar Response in Another Jurisdiction.
The UK's approach to homelessness includes the Homelessness Act 2002, which places
authority on local housing authorities to carry out homelessness reviews and publish strategies to
help the vulnerable. The social services authority in the country is thereby guided by the policy
in providing services to the identified vulnerable communities. In the United States, the
McKinney–Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987-is a United States federal law that takes a
different approach by providing federal money for homeless shelter programs. The plan is guided
by liberal individualism and is aimed at helping people at the individual level and not as a group.
Contribution to Social Justice
Social justice involves fair and just relations between individuals and society, including
equal access to opportunities and resources, as well as the protection of human rights. A key
principle in the promotion of social policy is equitability in the promotion of social services
(McClelland, 2020). Ensuring every Australian gets access to accessible housing helps promote
social justice. As discussed by Smyth (2020), the promotion of public policy can also promote
social justice by-ensuring the policy created promotes equitability, dignity, and respect for human
rights for all Australians. According to the Australian Parliament, social security is part of the
social apparatus that promotes vulnerable communities socially. For instance, the housing action
plan discussed aims to promote the welfare of Indigenous communities and economically
disadvantaged social members.
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Conclusion
The promotion of polices is key in defining the structure and system of the state
addresses to social problems. Using Fenna's framework, the ideological influences in modern
homelessness policy are a mix of welfare liberalism, social democracy, and influences from other
social welfare philosophies. Policies are developed to help the most vulnerable social groups
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References.
Acknowledge Education. (2021). SAP203 Week 2 Welfare Concepts. [YouTube]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gMafomWNZM
Fenna, A. (2013). Political ideologies.-Government politics in Australia, 112-136.
Macintyre, S. (2018). Owners and Tenants: The Commonwealth Housing Commission and Post‐
War Housing, 1943–1949.-Australian economic history review,-58(3), 265-282.
https://doi.org/10.1111/aehr.12160
Mary Daly., 2011, Founding idea and Approaches, Welfare., Polity Press, pp. 1-35
McClelland, A., (2020). Social Policy in Australia 4e eBook Understanding for Action., Oxford
University Press Australia and New Zealand, pp. 3-19
Parliament of Australia (nd.). Commonwealth Parliament; address=Parliament House, C. (2015).
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Families WA Report. In-100 Families WA Report Launch. 100 Families WA.
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Homelessness.-Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australia's Welfare.
Smyth, P., (2020). Australian social policy in an international context in McClelland, A. et
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Spies-Butcher, B. (2014)-Marketisation and the dual welfare state: Neoliberalism and inequality
in Australia.-The Economic and Labour Relations Review--2014, Vol. 25(2) 185–201
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