BROKERING ACCESS TO PUBLIC SERVICES FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS

This study analyzes the brokerage processes involved in granting access to public policies for disadvantaged social groups. It is based on field research conducted in downtown Brasília (Brazil), observing hundreds of interactions between people experiencing homelessness and the institutions providing public services for this population. The study questions the assumptions regarding direct relationships between street-level bureaucrats and users, connections often taken for granted in the literature on public policy implementation. By drawing on perspectives of policies as everyday experiences involving various third parties, the findings indicate: a) theoretical and methodological proposals for incorporating brokerage as a central object of study in policy implementation processes; and b) a deeper understanding of the underlying conditions of brokerage, the variations among brokers, and the consequences of these processes for people experiencing homelessness, offering valuable insights for actions aimed at promoting equitable access to public services.

Keywords:
brokerage; experiences; people experiencing homelessness; public policy implementation; access to public policies