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Journal of Public Management & Social Policy

Abstract

Abstract

Homelessness is long-standing issue in American cities, with significant human consequences. However, current public management research does not typically include research on public agencies responding to the needs of the homeless.

This paper uses a case study to explore the disconnect between public management research and those living on the margins of society as homeless. The case study illustrates the potential for multiple streams of research in public management to effectively research the complexities of homelessness. This paper makes the case for that public agency responses to the varied dimensions of homelessness align with public management research, with the potential to expand the scope of public management research to benefit the homeless as a marginalized community.

A case study of homelessness in Los Angeles County is explored to show the potential for well-developed lines of public management research to be applied to the public agency response to homelessness. This paper contributes three components to public management research: one, noting that homelessness is understudied in public management; two, applying current research streams in public management to develop analytic leverage for understanding the public management dimensions of homelessness; and three, exploring the potential for varied streams of public management research to address a marginalized community of vulnerable individuals.

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