Article: Homeless' resistance to public policy in Medellin, Colombia: a system thinking approach Journal: International Journal of Applied Systemic Studies (IJASS) 2017 Vol.7 No.4 pp.296 - 311 Abstract: Homelessness is a social condition that jeopardises human dignity. Scientific literature to date has shown an increase in the number of homeless inhabiting streets and temporary shelters around the world. Such studies underlie the urge to address the homelessness phenomenon however, although they highlight the importance of overcoming this social issue, they lack up-to-date data and consensus about measurements to face this matter. Accordingly, the aim of this paper is to deepen the discussion of homelessness using a system thinking analysis. For this purpose, the city of Medellin in Colombia was chosen as a case study. We propose a new dynamic hypothesis based on the economic criminal careers developed in the literature. We use a causal-descriptive model that serves to illustrate the reasons for resistance to policies among homeless and the pathways that have led these people to reach such a condition. This analysis shows that there are programs to reduce homelessness in the long-term but are undermined by sort-term fixes. We suggest using this systemic analysis to build a simulation model that could be used as a tool for policy makers to assess new social policies focused on addressing homelessness. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Homeless' resistance to public policy in Medellin, Colombia: a system thinking approach

Authors: Juan Esteban Martínez-Jaramillo; Javier Ruiz-Muñoz; Andrés Valencia-Ruiz

Addresses: Institución Universitaria Politécnico Grancolombiano, Calle 57 # 3-00 Este, Bogotá, Colombia ' Fundación Visibles, Carrera 49 # 66 - 62. Apt. 202, Medellin, Colombia ' Fundación Visibles, Carrera 49 # 66 - 62. Apt. 202, Medellin, Colombia

Abstract: Homelessness is a social condition that jeopardises human dignity. Scientific literature to date has shown an increase in the number of homeless inhabiting streets and temporary shelters around the world. Such studies underlie the urge to address the homelessness phenomenon however, although they highlight the importance of overcoming this social issue, they lack up-to-date data and consensus about measurements to face this matter. Accordingly, the aim of this paper is to deepen the discussion of homelessness using a system thinking analysis. For this purpose, the city of Medellin in Colombia was chosen as a case study. We propose a new dynamic hypothesis based on the economic criminal careers developed in the literature. We use a causal-descriptive model that serves to illustrate the reasons for resistance to policies among homeless and the pathways that have led these people to reach such a condition. This analysis shows that there are programs to reduce homelessness in the long-term but are undermined by sort-term fixes. We suggest using this systemic analysis to build a simulation model that could be used as a tool for policy makers to assess new social policies focused on addressing homelessness.

Keywords: system thinking; homelessness; public policies; counter-intuitive behaviour; archetypes; poverty; holistic analysis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJASS.2017.090001

International Journal of Applied Systemic Studies, 2017 Vol.7 No.4, pp.296 - 311

Received: 26 Jan 2017
Accepted: 18 Oct 2017
Published online: 26 Feb 2018 *

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Title: Homeless' resistance to public policy in Medellin, Colombia: a system thinking approach

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