scholarly journals The Promises of Housing First and the Realities of Neoliberalism: Lessons from Toronto's Streets to Homes Programme

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin Robert Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Affordable Housing ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Community Integration ◽  
City Council ◽  
Housing First ◽  
Permanent Housing ◽  
Neoliberal Governance ◽  
Holistic Understanding

In 2005, Toronto City Council adopted the Streets to Homes programme, based on the “Housing First” (HF) approach, as the centrepiece of the City’s strategy to address homelessness (City of Toronto, 2005). Under HF, a client is placed in permanent housing immediately, and then receives supports for concurrent issues, such as addiction and mental illness, that affect housing stability (Hwang et al, 2012). HF is being widely embraced by North American policymakers and academics, who applaud its utility in facilitating permanent housing retention (Waegemakers Schiff and Rook, 2012). However, critics argue that HF programmes facilitate the removal of marginalised populations from city centres and represents a retrenchment of front line emergency services, reflecting neoliberal governance and the regulation of space (Klowdasky, 2009; Willse, 2010). Both the heavy reliance of quantitative, medically-oriented measures employed by proponents of HF and the equally abstract arguments of its detractors fail to assess the implications of a city’s embrace of HF on the overall housing and homelessness policies and the regulation of space. The current study intends to overcome these gaps by presenting qualitative research conducted through interviews with City of Toronto officials, service providers, and other key informants. The initial research questions focused on why the decision to adopt Streets to Homes was made, and its impacts on service delivery and access to public space. However, the employ of grounded theory allowed for a more holistic understanding to emerge of how HF does not represent neoliberalism, but rather is hampered by it. In order for HF programmes to succeed, they must be supported by a robust supply of affordable housing and adequate income supports, as well as a great deal of attention being paid to the psychosocial issues that often accompany homelessness. A failure to have these supports in place results in continued extreme poverty and poor community integration for clients.

scholarly journals The Promises of Housing First and the Realities of Neoliberalism: Lessons from Toronto's Streets to Homes Programme

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin Robert Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Affordable Housing ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Community Integration ◽  
City Council ◽  
Housing First ◽  
Permanent Housing ◽  
Neoliberal Governance ◽  
Holistic Understanding

In 2005, Toronto City Council adopted the Streets to Homes programme, based on the “Housing First” (HF) approach, as the centrepiece of the City’s strategy to address homelessness (City of Toronto, 2005). Under HF, a client is placed in permanent housing immediately, and then receives supports for concurrent issues, such as addiction and mental illness, that affect housing stability (Hwang et al, 2012). HF is being widely embraced by North American policymakers and academics, who applaud its utility in facilitating permanent housing retention (Waegemakers Schiff and Rook, 2012). However, critics argue that HF programmes facilitate the removal of marginalised populations from city centres and represents a retrenchment of front line emergency services, reflecting neoliberal governance and the regulation of space (Klowdasky, 2009; Willse, 2010). Both the heavy reliance of quantitative, medically-oriented measures employed by proponents of HF and the equally abstract arguments of its detractors fail to assess the implications of a city’s embrace of HF on the overall housing and homelessness policies and the regulation of space. The current study intends to overcome these gaps by presenting qualitative research conducted through interviews with City of Toronto officials, service providers, and other key informants. The initial research questions focused on why the decision to adopt Streets to Homes was made, and its impacts on service delivery and access to public space. However, the employ of grounded theory allowed for a more holistic understanding to emerge of how HF does not represent neoliberalism, but rather is hampered by it. In order for HF programmes to succeed, they must be supported by a robust supply of affordable housing and adequate income supports, as well as a great deal of attention being paid to the psychosocial issues that often accompany homelessness. A failure to have these supports in place results in continued extreme poverty and poor community integration for clients.

scholarly journals Modelling improved efficiency in healthcare referral systems for the urban poor using a geo-referenced health facility data: the case of Sylhet City Corporation, Bangladesh

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alayne M. Adams ◽  
Rushdia Ahmed ◽  
Shakil Ahmed ◽  
Sifat Shahana Yusuf ◽  
Rubana Islam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Urban Poor ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Census Data ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Tertiary Hospital ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Referral Systems ◽  
Alternative Scenarios

Abstract Background An effective referral system is critical to ensuring access to appropriate and timely healthcare services. In pluralistic healthcare systems such as Bangladesh, referral inefficiencies due to distance, diversion to inappropriate facilities and unsuitable hours of service are common, particularly for the urban poor. This study explores the reported referral networks of urban facilities and models alternative scenarios that increase referral efficiency in terms of distance and service hours. Methods Road network and geo-referenced facility census data from Sylhet City Corporation were used to examine referral linkages between public, private and NGO facilities for maternal and emergency/critical care services, respectively. Geographic distances were calculated using ArcGIS Network Analyst extension through a “distance matrix” which was imported into a relational database. For each reported referral linkage, an alternative referral destination was identified that provided the same service at a closer distance as indicated by facility geo-location and distance analysis. Independent sample t-tests with unequal variances were performed to analyze differences in distance for each alternate scenario modelled. Results The large majority of reported referrals were received by public facilities. Taking into account distance, cost and hours of service, alternative scenarios for emergency services can augment referral efficiencies by 1.5–1.9 km (p < 0.05) compared to 2.5–2.7 km in the current scenario. For maternal health services, modeled alternate referrals enabled greater referral efficiency if directed to private and NGO-managed facilities, while still ensuring availability after working-hours. These referral alternatives also decreased the burden on Sylhet City’s major public tertiary hospital, where most referrals were directed. Nevertheless, associated costs may be disadvantageous for the urban poor. Conclusions For both maternal and emergency/critical care services, significant distance reductions can be achieved for public, NGO and private facilities that avert burden on Sylhet City’s largest public tertiary hospital. GIS-informed analyses can help strengthen coordination between service providers and contribute to more effective and equitable referral systems in Bangladesh and similar countries.

Case study of sustainable service design in the hospitality industry

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-An Chen ◽  
Chun Liang Chen
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Customer Value ◽  
Hospitality Industry ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Service Design ◽  
Cultural Resources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Holistic Understanding

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore how creative-cultural hotels can achieve sustainable service design through the development of a holistic conceptual framework. Design/methodology/approach The authors created this framework using a qualitative exploratory multi-case study of four creative-cultural hotels in Taiwan. The framework comprises strategic, organizational and interface levels to describe the design process and implementation of service offerings that co-create value within a multifaceted network of actors. Findings The findings of this study show that incorporating local arts and culture into sustainable service design can generate unique value and experiences for customers. From the perspective of sustainable development, these hotels seek to add value by using local creative and cultural resources to ensure that they have a sound commercial base from which to showcase their cultural features. As such, this study recommends that the hotel industry shift its focus to a paradigm that provides a strategic and sustainability-framed vision to create value for society while protecting local natural and cultural resources. Originality/value This multilevel model reframes the development of customer value constellations through a holistic understanding of user experience, eco-design practice, service encounters aligned with user touchpoints and front-line employee capabilities. To integrate the perspectives of both service providers and their customers, the proposed model embeds these stakeholders within a single model through the vehicle of local value co-creation. This holistic framework can assist in designing sustainable service within the hospitality industry to deliver better services and customer experiences. The findings provide an illustration of how the proposed multilevel sustainable-development-oriented service design framework can serve as a useful tool in guiding hotels toward corporate sustainability.

scholarly journals Prepaid Mobile Phone Service and the Anonymous Caller: Considering Wireless E9-1-1 in Canada.

2002 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon A. Gow ◽  
Mark Ihnat
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Emergency Service ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Privacy Rights ◽  
Privacy Concerns ◽  
Wireless Service ◽  
Commercial Networks ◽  
Phone Service ◽  
The Right

This paper reports on a recently concluded empirical study into the development of Wireless E9-1-1 (emergency service) in Canada that initially focussed on privacy concerns raised in the context of an emerging location based service (LBS) for mobile phone users. In light of existing regulatory arrangements this paper concludes that in Canada the emerging Wireless E9-1-1 system establishes a reasonable level of protection for the privacy rights of mobile phone users who choose to contact emergency services. However, an important and surprising issue was raised in the proceedings regarding the obligation of wireless service providers offering prepaid mobile phone service to obtain verifiable subscriber records from their customers. This paper provides details regarding the issue and contributes a number of points to an emerging debate concerning the right to anonymity for customers who elect to use prepaid or other services provided over commercial networks.

Causes of road projects' delays: a case of Blantyre, Malawi

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry Duncan John Mwamvani ◽  
Christopher Amoah ◽  
Emma Ayesu-Koranteng
Keyword(s):  
Service Providers ◽  
Road Construction ◽  
City Council ◽  
Public Utility ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Road Project ◽  
Road Projects

PurposeThe study aims to find the causes of road projects implementation delays in Blantyre, one of the four city councils (CCs) in Malawi.Design/methodology/approachThe study followed a qualitative research approach using a Blantyre City Council (BCC) as a case study. This study combined in-depth, face-to-face interviews with councillors, secretariat staff, consultants, and contractors who worked on the city's road projects. Data gathered were analysed using thematic content analysis. Also, some road project documents were examined.FindingsThe findings from the case study revealed the primary cause of road project construction delays as the shortage of engineers in conducting detailed proposed projects surveys resulting in incomplete project scope definition before contractor's procurement. Other identified factors were service providers delaying the removal of existing public utility infrastructure from project sites, client funding issues, scope changes, and client delays in issuing instructions to the contractors during project implementation. Another factor was the shortage of construction equipment and construction materials experienced by some appointed contractors.Research limitations/implicationsOnly road construction projects and stakeholders operating from Blantyre city, Malawi, were contacted for the study; thus, the findings may not be generalizable.Practical implicationsThere is an urgent need to increase technical employees, especially engineers and other critical technical staff such as quantity surveyors in Blantyre. Employees' conditions of service should be conducive to attract qualified people to undertake effective management and assessment of projects before commencement to identify the feasibility of proposed projects to decrease the rate of road construction project delays.Originality/valueThe study has established Blantyre city's core challenges in implementing its road projects seamlessly and has provided mitigation measures for dealing with the shortcomings.

scholarly journals Critical Infrastructures: The Operational Environment in Cases of Severe Disruption

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 838 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ossi Heino ◽  
Annina Takala ◽  
Pirjo Jukarainen ◽  
Joanna Kalalahti ◽  
Tuula Kekki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Services ◽  
Critical Infrastructure ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Terrorist Attack ◽  
Critical Infrastructures ◽  
Operational Environment ◽  
Electricity Grid ◽  
Operational Conditions ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Administrative Structures

The functioning and resilience of modern societies have become more and more dependent on critical infrastructures. Severe disturbance to critical infrastructure is likely to reveal chaotic operational conditions, in which infrastructure service providers, emergency services, police, municipalities, and other key stakeholders must act effectively to minimize damages and restore normal operations. This paper aims to better understand this kind of operational environment resulting from, for example, a terrorist attack. It emphasizes mutual interdependencies among key stakeholders in such situations. The empirical contribution is based on observations from a workshop, in which participants representing the critical services and infrastructures in Finland discussed in thematic groups. Two scenarios guided the workshop discussions; nationwide electricity grid disruption and presumably intentionally contaminated water supply in a city. The results indicate that more attention should be paid to the interdependencies between critical infrastructures, as well as to the latent vulnerabilities hidden inside the systems. Furthermore, producing security seems to require continuous interaction and creation of meanings between extremely different actors and logics. This implies a need for changes in thinking, particularly concerning the ability to define problems across conventional administrative structures, geographical boundaries and conferred powers.

(P2-30) Development of Disaster and Emergency Medicine in Nepal

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S1) ◽  
pp. s145-s145
Author(s):  
R.K. Maharjan
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Medicine ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Research Training ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
International Institute ◽  
Institute Of Medicine ◽  
Emergency Situations ◽  
National Stadium

Nepal, a landlocked country between China and India, is developing disaster and emergency medicine. In 2007, the Nepal Disaster and Emergency Medicine (NADEM) Center was formed with the aim of developing this specialty in Nepal. The first hospital was built in July 1889. It wasn't until 1988 that a Disaster Response Team was organized following a stampede incident in the national stadium in Kathmandu. The country often experiences disaster and emergency situations due to geographic and natural hazards and political tensions.In 1984, the Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital created emergency services with general practitioners (GPs) directing and providing services. Since then, almost all emergency services of different hospitals are run by GPs with house officers, nurses, and paramedics. There still is a lack of training and proper management, and limited equipment and infrastructure to provide needed disaster and emergency services to the people. The NADEM Center is developing coordination objectives between different emergency service providers to organize ways of service providing. This will be done through NADEM's continuing medical education and publication of Journal of Nepal Disaster and Emergency Medicine (J-NADEM) and NewsHealth; coordination among emergency medical services (prehospital), in-hospital services, and disaster and critical care medicine; and planning and implementation of different research, training, workshops, seminars, and conferences in disaster and emergency medicine with cooperation from the world. The NADEM Center will develop International Institute of Disaster and Emergency Medicine.

THE CONCEPT OF COMPETENCE IN THE CONTEXT OF EDUCATION REFORM IN LATVIA

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
Ilze Briška ◽  
Gunta Siliņa-Jasjukeviča ◽  
Daiga Kalēja-Gasparoviča
Keyword(s):  
Education Reform ◽  
General Education ◽  
Public Space ◽  
Research Question ◽  
School Curriculum ◽  
Experienced Teachers ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Holistic Understanding ◽  
Evaluation Of Learning ◽  
Common Understanding

The word competence is a key concept of ongoing education reform in Latvia - the ESF project “Competency approach in the curriculum” (hereafter: Project). The implementation of the idea of competence-based curriculum is related to significant changes in the structure of school and pre-school curriculum, the system of evaluation of learning outcomes, teacher education etc., which are widely clarified and discussed in expert groups and public space. Participating as experts in the development of a Project, the authors of the article find that the Latvian educational space lacks a common understanding of the meaning of the concept competence. Often the pedagogical terminology used by educators even contradicts the innovative meaning and essence of the reform. The aim of the article is to clarify the inconsistency and contradictions related to understanding of the concept competence in the context of Latvian educational reforms. Research question: How to use the pedagogical terminology related to concept competence to reflect the innovative approach correctly and deeply, but at the same time - simple and understandable for the teachers, parents and children. To find it out, the article analyzes the essence of the competence approach in theory and compares it with the actual situation in practice. The research data were obtained in 34 written students’ reflections after study practice and 9 interviews with experienced teachers of general education schools in different regions of Latvia. The content analysis of the interviews was proceeded, the dimensions of holistic understanding of concept competence was marked and types of contradictions – generalized. Results: The analysis revealed discrepancies between terminology used in the framework of educational reform, and educators’ understanding of its meaning. These findings can develop educators’ common understanding of concept ‘competence’.

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