UC Santa Cruz

Homelessness is of great and growing concern to Californians, yet social and political barriers often prevent meaningful policy interventions from being adopted (Baldassare et al., 2022; Roman & Carver, 2021). However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, localities across California made an unprecedented, innovative investment in housing via Homekey, a policy to rapidly expand housing for people experiencing homelessness (HCD, 2021; Reid et al., 2022). Drawing on Kingdon’s (1995) multiple streams framework, this study examined how the problem, policy, and political streams associated with anti-homeless policy converged during the COVID-19 pandemic to create a political window for Homekey’s adoption (Kingdon, 1995). Although the multiple stream framework is widely used in policy research, it is rarely employed in social psychological analyses of social and economic policies. Likewise, social psychological theories can deepen analyses of policy streams. This study addressed these gaps by examining how system-justifying attitudes, beliefs, and narratives about poverty and homelessness inform policy windows (Appelbaum et al., 2003; Bullock, 2013; 2017; 2019; Jost et al., 2015; Kay et al., 2009; Reppond & Bullock, 2018; Wagaman et al., 2018). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with local stakeholders (i.e., individuals responsible for that area’s Homekey program) at two timepoints. Wave 1 interviews occurred in fall 2020 and included

localities that applied for Homekey (n=10) and localities that were unable to apply (n=8). Wave 2 data collection took place in winter 2023 and included follow-up interviews with localities who applied for Homekey at Wave 1 (n=9) and a new sample of localities who applied for Round 2 but not Round 1 (n=9). The goals of the study were to: (1) examine how attitudes, beliefs, and narratives about homelessness and poverty influence political and public support; (2) investigate how policy entrepreneurs subvert and overcome psychological barriers to create political windows; (3) document social, economic, political, and community factors influencing local government readiness to invest in housing for people experiencing homelessness; and (4) consider Homekey’s influence on political and public support for future anti-homelessness policies. Reflexive thematic analysis was employed to identify factors in each stream that contributed to opening a policy window for Homekey. In the problem stream, stereotypes and NIMBYism threatened support for Homekey, while framing homelessness as a local issue that warranted policy action beyond enforcement fostered community support. In the policy stream, Homekey’s streamlined, flexible approach enhanced its technical feasibility, especially among communities whose values aligned with affordable housing. In the political stream, policy entrepreneurs mitigated backlash by demonstrating accountability, highlighting policy successes, and strategic community engagement. Political will was bolstered by the state’s investment and support. These findings deepen our understanding of the relationship between ideology and political action and illuminate how local governments can overcome barriers to adopting programs such as Homekey.