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The housing crisis goes to law

Dave Cowan & Alex Marsh

Journal of Law and Society2026https://doi.org/10.1111/jols.70046article
AJG 2ABDC B
Weight
0.50

Abstract

This paper considers how constructions of a ‘housing crisis’ have impacted on judicial consideration of the rights of applicants for social housing and homelessness assistance. Drawing on Bacchi's framework for appreciating problematisations (What's the problem represented to be?) and understandings of housing crisis, we examine how crisis is translated into three elements of the passage of homelessness law: decision letters, witness statements and judgements. This can lead to narrowing of interpretations of the rights of homeless people. Even when that is not the outcome, crisis is accepted as a ‘fact’ and embedded as the context for decision‐making.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/jols.70046

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@article{dave2026,
  title        = {{The housing crisis goes to law}},
  author       = {Dave Cowan & Alex Marsh},
  journal      = {Journal of Law and Society},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/jols.70046},
}

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The housing crisis goes to law

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Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

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