Anna Kopec

In Canadian Public Administration, we share our findings from a SSHRC KSG funded project on the inclusion of lived experience in Canadian research, policy, and advocacy on homelessness. We present the results of our extensive reviews of academic literature (and specifically research designs), policy documents and reports across Canadian cities, provinces and territories, and advocacy networks. We find that none of the areas include folks with lived experiences of homelessness thoroughly (or with clear reporting or engagement mechanisms). We argue the inclusion of lived experts is necessary and through policy learning, each of the areas could learn from the other to ensure more meaningful inclusion of lived experience in policymaking. The paper is Open Access and can be found here.

In our recently published article in Social Sciences, Alison Smith and I explore the inclusion of lived expertise in the governance of homelessness in Canada. Framing the discussion in democratic participation and policymaking literature, we present the utility of lived expertise as well as its repeated exclusion and argue for more meaningful engagement and inclusion. Although the Canadian case exhibits some mechanisms of engagement with lived experts, we argue they need to be more explicit and inclusionary for more effective and meaningful policymaking. The article is open access and can be found here.

In a recent article published in Policy Studies Journal I present findings from a qualitative comparative study of homelessness that provides important insights for policy feedback theory. I argue that not only do policies influence political participation, but various policy design characteristics interact in doing so. The paper shares insights from the study and shows how policy characteristics interact to influence the form and venue of participation among a marginalized population. The article is published Open Access and can be found here.

In an article published in the International Journal of Qualitative Methods I consider the benefits of more qualitative research with marginalized groups for policy feedback theory development. I present three areas of theory development qualitative research designs stand to contribute and conclude that more mixed-method designs with careful inclusion of lived experiences of marginalized groups will benefit policy feedback inquiry and theory. The paper is Open Access and can be found here.

In a paper published in the Journal of Public Policy I share the findings from a media analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic homelessness responses in three Canadian cities. Utilizing the critical juncture and path dependence literature, I characterize the various responses taken during the pandemic as mechanisms of change or path dependence. The paper is Open Access and available here.

In paper for the American Review of Canadian Studies Alison Smith (University of Toronto) and I examine how and from what perspective homelessness has been studied in Canada. We share results from a systematic literature review with an analysis of the authors and their disciplines, the research questions, and the recommendations commonly found in existing homelessness research and argue for more research from a political science perspective. The paper is Open Access and available for download here.

My other research, including pieces published in Canadian Journal of Nonprofit and Social Economy Research, Local and State Government Review, and the Canadian Journal of Urban Research can be found in my CV.