Welfare Reform on the Web (August 2000): Social Housing - Overseas

CITIZENSHIP IN THE NEW WELFARE MARKET: THE PURPOSES OF HOUSING ADVICE SERVICES

J. Dean, R. Goodlad and A. Rosengard

Journal of Social Policy, vol. 29, 2000, p. 229-245

Three models of access to social rights can be detected in current debates about citizenship. The institutionalised rights model, based on the post-war welfare state, stresses education and information. The market efficiency model, based on neo-liberal consumerist approaches to welfare provision, stresses the need for consumer information. The radical model challenges the assumption of a level playing field for all citizens and stresses advocacy and casework. As the state's role in housing has been transformed and governments have stressed the efficiency model, housing advice services have expanded in both state and voluntary sectors. The objectives and work of these services is shown as providing a close fit with the institutional rights model in the local authority sector, while in the voluntary sector the institutional rights model dominates.