Beth Watts
Biographic Data
| ID | 3582196 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Beth Watts |
| GIVEN NAMES | Beth |
| FAMILY NAME | Watts |
| SIGNATURE | WATTS B |
| AFFILIATIONS | Heriot-Watt University |
| VERIFIED | No |
| TOTAL WORKS | 16 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 142 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 16 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2014 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2022 |
| H-INDEX | 7 |
Individual, interpersonal, and neighborhood measures associated with opioid use stigma: Evidence from a nationally representative survey
Despite growing awareness of opioid use disorder (OUD), fatal overdoses and downstream health conditions (e.g., hepatitis C and HIV) continue to rise in some populations. Various interrelated structural forces, together with social and economic determinants, contribute to this ongoing crisis; among these, access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and stigma towards people with OUD remain understudied. We combined data on methadone, bup…
Valuing Control over One’s Immediate Living Environment: How Homelessness Responses Corrode Capabilities
Informed by the capabilities approach, this paper considers the importance of control over one’s environment for people experiencing homelessness. Drawing on a study of temporary accommodation in Scotland, we make four arguments. First, control over one’s immediate living environment has been insufficiently recognized as a foundational component of a minimally decent life within the capabilities literature. Second, such control is compromised, so…
The Prevalence and Nature of Violence Against Women Experiencing Homelessness: A Quantitative Study
Individuals experiencing homelessness-an extreme form of social exclusion-have considerably higher risk of being victims of violence than the general population. We analyze the episodes of violence suffered by 504 individuals experiencing homelessness in Spain, as well as the differences between men and women. The results indicate high levels of violence and suggest that gender (specifically, being a woman) is the primary factor driving exposure …
Rebalancing the rhetoric: A normative analysis of enforcement in street homelessness policy
Street homelessness policies often provoke great intensity of feeling, especially when they include elements of force. This paper considers the moral case stakeholders present for and against enforcement in street homelessness policies via a series of philosophically informed normative ‘lenses’, including paternalist, utilitarian, rights-based, contractualist, mutualist and social justice perspectives. Drawing on in-depth qualitative research in …
Capabilities, Value Pluralism and Homelessness
We are in full agreement with Kimhur (this issue) that the capability approach is a “well-grounded ... highly valuable ... extremely interdisciplinary” (16) framework through which to consider the core
Conditionality in the context of housing‐led homelessness policy: Comparing Australia’s Housing First agenda to Scotland’s “rights‐based” approach
Homelessness services and policy have historically tended to be organised by an explicitly conditional logic, wherein people experiencing homelessness must prove their “housing readiness” before accessing settled housing. This model has been robustly challenged in recent decades by “housing‐led” approaches that ostensibly eschew conditionality and prioritise the rapid rehousing of people experiencing homelessness. Various countries now include ho…
The City Under Covid‐19: Podcasting As Digital Methodology
This critical commentary reflects on a rapidly mobilised international podcast project, in which 25 urban scholars from around the world provided audio recordings about their cities during COVID‐19. New digital tools are increasing the speeds, formats and breadth of the research and communication mediums available to researchers. Voice recorders on mobile phones and digital audio editing on laptops allows researchers to collaborate in new ways, a…
The limits of localism: A decade of disaster on homelessness in England
The rhetoric and practice of localism has attracted significant support within both political and academic circles in the UK in recent years. However, it is the contention of this article that there are, or should be, limits to localism as applied to the basic citizenship rights of vulnerable people. Drawing on a ten-year, mixed-methods study, we use the example of sharply rising homelessness in England to illustrate our argument that localist po…
Welfare Conditionality
Welfare conditionality has become an idea of global significance in recent years. A ‘hot topic’ in North America, Australia, and across Europe, it has been linked to austerity politics, and the rise of foodbanks and destitution. In the Global South, where publicly funded welfare protection systems are often absent, conditional approaches have become a key tool employed by organisations pursuing human development goals. The essence of welfare cond…
Taking Values Seriously in Housing Studies
It was a great pleasure to have the opportunity to comment on these two fascinating, and highly complementary, Focus articles by David Clapham (This issue) and Hannu Ruonavaaran (This issue). Their
Homelessness and social control: A typology
The use of 'social control' interventions in housing and welfare policy often courts intense controversy, and never more so than when attempts are made to bring about change in the conduct of street homeless people. To date, academic scrutiny has focused on the so-called 'regulation' or 'criminalisation' of rough sleepers occupying public space, but a range of 'softer' control mechanisms are also now in evidence within homelessness support servic…
Controlling Homeless People? Power, Interventionism and Legitimacy
There is intense debate over the legitimacy of interventions which seek behavioural change on the part of street homeless people. 'Hard' measures, such as arresting people for begging, are particularly controversial, but 'softer' interventions such as motivational interviewing have also prompted objections on grounds that they are paternalistic. At the same time, the 'non-interventionist' stance of some service providers has been accused of perpe…
Competing visions: Security of tenure and the welfarisation of English social housing
Recent legislation ending security of tenure for new council tenants in England may be considered emblematic of a US-style vision of social housing as a temporary welfare service, reserved only for the very poorest. But there is resistance amongst social landlords, many of whom remain committed to providing ‘homes for life’. Moreover, austerity-driven cuts mean that benefit-dependent households are increasingly refused social tenancies on grounds…
Contemporary Housing Issues in a Globalized World
This edited collection seeks to develop a “new paradigm” within which to approach contemporary housing issues in a globalized world. Its 10 chapters offer a legal perspective on housing issues and
Rights to Housing: Reviewing the Terrain and Exploring a Way Forward
Exacerbated by the specificity of housing as a welfare good, debates on housing, citizenship and rights are complex and often confusing. This article attempts to clarify the debate on rights-based approaches in the field of housing, shelter and homelessness. It focuses on the philosophical distinction between “natural” and “socially constructed” rights, and suggests that a plausible “third way” may be found by using Martha Nussbaum’s “central hum…
Homelessness, Empowerment and Self-reliance in Scotland and Ireland: The Impact of Legal Rights to Housing for Homeless People
This paper explores the impact of legal rights to housing for homeless people, focusing on the capacity of such rights to 'empower' those experiencing homelessness. Lukes' (2005) three-dimensional view of power, complemented by Bourdieu's (1972) concept of 'habitus', is used to distinguish between conceptualisations of empowerment. A distinction is drawn between 'traditional' understandings of empowerment, which focus on people's capacity to real…
Rights to Housing: Reviewing the Terrain and Exploring a Way Forward
Exacerbated by the specificity of housing as a welfare good, debates on housing, citizenship and rights are complex and often confusing. This article attempts to clarify the debate on rights-based approaches in the field of housing, shelter and homelessness. It focuses on the philosophical distinction between “natural” and “socially constructed” rights, and suggests that a plausible “third way” may be found by using Martha Nussbaum’s “central hum…
The limits of localism: A decade of disaster on homelessness in England
The rhetoric and practice of localism has attracted significant support within both political and academic circles in the UK in recent years. However, it is the contention of this article that there are, or should be, limits to localism as applied to the basic citizenship rights of vulnerable people. Drawing on a ten-year, mixed-methods study, we use the example of sharply rising homelessness in England to illustrate our argument that localist po…
Homelessness and social control: A typology
The use of 'social control' interventions in housing and welfare policy often courts intense controversy, and never more so than when attempts are made to bring about change in the conduct of street homeless people. To date, academic scrutiny has focused on the so-called 'regulation' or 'criminalisation' of rough sleepers occupying public space, but a range of 'softer' control mechanisms are also now in evidence within homelessness support servic…
Competing visions: Security of tenure and the welfarisation of English social housing
Recent legislation ending security of tenure for new council tenants in England may be considered emblematic of a US-style vision of social housing as a temporary welfare service, reserved only for the very poorest. But there is resistance amongst social landlords, many of whom remain committed to providing ‘homes for life’. Moreover, austerity-driven cuts mean that benefit-dependent households are increasingly refused social tenancies on grounds…
Controlling Homeless People? Power, Interventionism and Legitimacy
There is intense debate over the legitimacy of interventions which seek behavioural change on the part of street homeless people. 'Hard' measures, such as arresting people for begging, are particularly controversial, but 'softer' interventions such as motivational interviewing have also prompted objections on grounds that they are paternalistic. At the same time, the 'non-interventionist' stance of some service providers has been accused of perpe…
Homelessness, Empowerment and Self-reliance in Scotland and Ireland: The Impact of Legal Rights to Housing for Homeless People
This paper explores the impact of legal rights to housing for homeless people, focusing on the capacity of such rights to 'empower' those experiencing homelessness. Lukes' (2005) three-dimensional view of power, complemented by Bourdieu's (1972) concept of 'habitus', is used to distinguish between conceptualisations of empowerment. A distinction is drawn between 'traditional' understandings of empowerment, which focus on people's capacity to real…
Valuing Control over One’s Immediate Living Environment: How Homelessness Responses Corrode Capabilities
Informed by the capabilities approach, this paper considers the importance of control over one’s environment for people experiencing homelessness. Drawing on a study of temporary accommodation in Scotland, we make four arguments. First, control over one’s immediate living environment has been insufficiently recognized as a foundational component of a minimally decent life within the capabilities literature. Second, such control is compromised, so…
The Prevalence and Nature of Violence Against Women Experiencing Homelessness: A Quantitative Study
Individuals experiencing homelessness-an extreme form of social exclusion-have considerably higher risk of being victims of violence than the general population. We analyze the episodes of violence suffered by 504 individuals experiencing homelessness in Spain, as well as the differences between men and women. The results indicate high levels of violence and suggest that gender (specifically, being a woman) is the primary factor driving exposure …
Conditionality in the context of housing‐led homelessness policy: Comparing Australia’s Housing First agenda to Scotland’s “rights‐based” approach
Homelessness services and policy have historically tended to be organised by an explicitly conditional logic, wherein people experiencing homelessness must prove their “housing readiness” before accessing settled housing. This model has been robustly challenged in recent decades by “housing‐led” approaches that ostensibly eschew conditionality and prioritise the rapid rehousing of people experiencing homelessness. Various countries now include ho…
Rebalancing the rhetoric: A normative analysis of enforcement in street homelessness policy
Street homelessness policies often provoke great intensity of feeling, especially when they include elements of force. This paper considers the moral case stakeholders present for and against enforcement in street homelessness policies via a series of philosophically informed normative ‘lenses’, including paternalist, utilitarian, rights-based, contractualist, mutualist and social justice perspectives. Drawing on in-depth qualitative research in …
Capabilities, Value Pluralism and Homelessness
We are in full agreement with Kimhur (this issue) that the capability approach is a “well-grounded ... highly valuable ... extremely interdisciplinary” (16) framework through which to consider the core
The City Under Covid‐19: Podcasting As Digital Methodology
This critical commentary reflects on a rapidly mobilised international podcast project, in which 25 urban scholars from around the world provided audio recordings about their cities during COVID‐19. New digital tools are increasing the speeds, formats and breadth of the research and communication mediums available to researchers. Voice recorders on mobile phones and digital audio editing on laptops allows researchers to collaborate in new ways, a…
Taking Values Seriously in Housing Studies
It was a great pleasure to have the opportunity to comment on these two fascinating, and highly complementary, Focus articles by David Clapham (This issue) and Hannu Ruonavaaran (This issue). Their
Individual, interpersonal, and neighborhood measures associated with opioid use stigma: Evidence from a nationally representative survey
Despite growing awareness of opioid use disorder (OUD), fatal overdoses and downstream health conditions (e.g., hepatitis C and HIV) continue to rise in some populations. Various interrelated structural forces, together with social and economic determinants, contribute to this ongoing crisis; among these, access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and stigma towards people with OUD remain understudied. We combined data on methadone, bup…
Contemporary Housing Issues in a Globalized World
This edited collection seeks to develop a “new paradigm” within which to approach contemporary housing issues in a globalized world. Its 10 chapters offer a legal perspective on housing issues and
Rights to Housing: Reviewing the Terrain and Exploring a Way Forward
Exacerbated by the specificity of housing as a welfare good, debates on housing, citizenship and rights are complex and often confusing. This article attempts to clarify the debate on rights-based approaches in the field of housing, shelter and homelessness. It focuses on the philosophical distinction between “natural” and “socially constructed” rights, and suggests that a plausible “third way” may be found by using Martha Nussbaum’s “central hum…
Homelessness, Empowerment and Self-reliance in Scotland and Ireland: The Impact of Legal Rights to Housing for Homeless People
This paper explores the impact of legal rights to housing for homeless people, focusing on the capacity of such rights to 'empower' those experiencing homelessness. Lukes' (2005) three-dimensional view of power, complemented by Bourdieu's (1972) concept of 'habitus', is used to distinguish between conceptualisations of empowerment. A distinction is drawn between 'traditional' understandings of empowerment, which focus on people's capacity to real…
Contemporary Housing Issues in a Globalized World
This edited collection seeks to develop a “new paradigm” within which to approach contemporary housing issues in a globalized world. Its 10 chapters offer a legal perspective on housing issues and
Competing visions: Security of tenure and the welfarisation of English social housing
Recent legislation ending security of tenure for new council tenants in England may be considered emblematic of a US-style vision of social housing as a temporary welfare service, reserved only for the very poorest. But there is resistance amongst social landlords, many of whom remain committed to providing ‘homes for life’. Moreover, austerity-driven cuts mean that benefit-dependent households are increasingly refused social tenancies on grounds…
Welfare Conditionality
Welfare conditionality has become an idea of global significance in recent years. A ‘hot topic’ in North America, Australia, and across Europe, it has been linked to austerity politics, and the rise of foodbanks and destitution. In the Global South, where publicly funded welfare protection systems are often absent, conditional approaches have become a key tool employed by organisations pursuing human development goals. The essence of welfare cond…
Taking Values Seriously in Housing Studies
It was a great pleasure to have the opportunity to comment on these two fascinating, and highly complementary, Focus articles by David Clapham (This issue) and Hannu Ruonavaaran (This issue). Their
Homelessness and social control: A typology
The use of 'social control' interventions in housing and welfare policy often courts intense controversy, and never more so than when attempts are made to bring about change in the conduct of street homeless people. To date, academic scrutiny has focused on the so-called 'regulation' or 'criminalisation' of rough sleepers occupying public space, but a range of 'softer' control mechanisms are also now in evidence within homelessness support servic…
Controlling Homeless People? Power, Interventionism and Legitimacy
There is intense debate over the legitimacy of interventions which seek behavioural change on the part of street homeless people. 'Hard' measures, such as arresting people for begging, are particularly controversial, but 'softer' interventions such as motivational interviewing have also prompted objections on grounds that they are paternalistic. At the same time, the 'non-interventionist' stance of some service providers has been accused of perpe…
Capabilities, Value Pluralism and Homelessness
We are in full agreement with Kimhur (this issue) that the capability approach is a “well-grounded ... highly valuable ... extremely interdisciplinary” (16) framework through which to consider the core
Conditionality in the context of housing‐led homelessness policy: Comparing Australia’s Housing First agenda to Scotland’s “rights‐based” approach
Homelessness services and policy have historically tended to be organised by an explicitly conditional logic, wherein people experiencing homelessness must prove their “housing readiness” before accessing settled housing. This model has been robustly challenged in recent decades by “housing‐led” approaches that ostensibly eschew conditionality and prioritise the rapid rehousing of people experiencing homelessness. Various countries now include ho…
The City Under Covid‐19: Podcasting As Digital Methodology
This critical commentary reflects on a rapidly mobilised international podcast project, in which 25 urban scholars from around the world provided audio recordings about their cities during COVID‐19. New digital tools are increasing the speeds, formats and breadth of the research and communication mediums available to researchers. Voice recorders on mobile phones and digital audio editing on laptops allows researchers to collaborate in new ways, a…
The limits of localism: A decade of disaster on homelessness in England
The rhetoric and practice of localism has attracted significant support within both political and academic circles in the UK in recent years. However, it is the contention of this article that there are, or should be, limits to localism as applied to the basic citizenship rights of vulnerable people. Drawing on a ten-year, mixed-methods study, we use the example of sharply rising homelessness in England to illustrate our argument that localist po…
Valuing Control over One’s Immediate Living Environment: How Homelessness Responses Corrode Capabilities
Informed by the capabilities approach, this paper considers the importance of control over one’s environment for people experiencing homelessness. Drawing on a study of temporary accommodation in Scotland, we make four arguments. First, control over one’s immediate living environment has been insufficiently recognized as a foundational component of a minimally decent life within the capabilities literature. Second, such control is compromised, so…
The Prevalence and Nature of Violence Against Women Experiencing Homelessness: A Quantitative Study
Individuals experiencing homelessness-an extreme form of social exclusion-have considerably higher risk of being victims of violence than the general population. We analyze the episodes of violence suffered by 504 individuals experiencing homelessness in Spain, as well as the differences between men and women. The results indicate high levels of violence and suggest that gender (specifically, being a woman) is the primary factor driving exposure …
Rebalancing the rhetoric: A normative analysis of enforcement in street homelessness policy
Street homelessness policies often provoke great intensity of feeling, especially when they include elements of force. This paper considers the moral case stakeholders present for and against enforcement in street homelessness policies via a series of philosophically informed normative ‘lenses’, including paternalist, utilitarian, rights-based, contractualist, mutualist and social justice perspectives. Drawing on in-depth qualitative research in …
Individual, interpersonal, and neighborhood measures associated with opioid use stigma: Evidence from a nationally representative survey
Despite growing awareness of opioid use disorder (OUD), fatal overdoses and downstream health conditions (e.g., hepatitis C and HIV) continue to rise in some populations. Various interrelated structural forces, together with social and economic determinants, contribute to this ongoing crisis; among these, access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and stigma towards people with OUD remain understudied. We combined data on methadone, bup…
Political science (12 works) · Sociology (11 works) · Homelessness and Social Issues (10 works) · Housing, Finance, and Neoliberalism (10 works) · Law (9 works) · Economics (8 works) · Law (6 works) · Politics (6 works) · Psychology (5 works) · Social Psychology (5 works)