Controlling Homeless Populations? The Case of Congregate Hostels and Shelters

This chapter explores social control measures within the context of homelessness policy and practice, focusing on the utilisation of congregate accommodation models as a response to homelessness. Drawing upon an international literature base, a five-level social control typology is applied to hostels and shelters, with the aim of evaluating their nature, outcomes, and ethical implications. The findings indicate that the forms of social control commonly employed in congregate environments may inadvertently perpetuate homelessness and lead to detrimental consequences for people living there. This analysis sheds light on the negative impacts of hostel and shelters, thus adding to existing concerns about the appropriateness of their use in progressive homelessness policies.