ABSTRACT
In summary, the way homelessness is defined impacts on policy, funding and the general public’s perceptions of rooflessness. The sociological theory held affects the way rooflessness is treated as a topic and subsequently influences social policy. No single theory proved adequate to completely explain rooflessness, though structuration perhaps came the closest. Social policies, including housing, economic, employment and homelessness policy, can both prevent and trigger vulnerability to rooflessness. Those on the streets are a product of current and past social policies, with much of the existing policy developed by default rather than systematic design. The resulting consequence has been a legacy of disjointed, unco-ordinated projects and pieces of legislation, despite several attempts to unite them. Successful assistance for the roofless appears to be a lottery dependent on geographical location, government and voluntary sector policies and funding sources.
