 Evaluating trials on basic income and homelessness using the Polanyian capabilitarian frameworkVerena Löffler Chapter 13 in Homelessness in Affluent Societies, 2026, pp 218-233 from Edward Elgar Publishing Abstract: Most strategies to combat homelessness focus on enabling access to affordable housing. However, the debate has mostly neglected how homeless persons can secure stable incomes. To address this gap, a basic income policy, an unconditional and individual payment, has recently been proposed to improve the living situation of homeless persons. Extending this literature, this chapter evaluates two experiments that provide basic income to homeless people based on the Polanyian capabilitarian framework developed by Svitych (2024, ‘Amartya Sen, Karl Polanyi, and Universal Basic Income’, Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, 25(1), pp. 42–60). The empirical evidence demonstrates that unconditional payments contribute to housing stability and communal affiliation, while there is no indication that the policy improves the food security, mental health, and education of homeless persons. Hence, the analysis stresses that the basic income policy is not a one-for-all policy solution but can enhance particular capabilities and, thereby, contribute to a just society. Keywords: Basic Income; Homelessness; Social Justice; Capabilities; Social Policy (search for similar items in EconPapers) Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:elg:eechap:24378_13 Ordering information: This item can be ordered from Access Statistics for this chapter More chapters in Chapters from Edward Elgar Publishing |
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