The role of advocacy coalitions in a project implementation process: the example of the planning phase of the At Home/Chez Soi project dealing with homelessness in Montreal.
This study analyzed the planning process (summer 2008 to fall 2009) of a Montreal project that offers housing and community follow-up to homeless people with mental disorders, with or without substance abuse disorders. With the help of the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF), advocacy groups that were able to navigate a complex intervention implementation process were identified. In all, 25 people involved in the Montreal At Home/Chez Soi project were surveyed through interviews (n=18) and a discussion group (n=7). Participant observations and documentation (minutes and correspondence) were also used for the analysis. The start-up phase of the At Home/Chez may be broken down into three separate periods qualified respectively as "honeymoon;" "clash of cultures;" and "acceptance & commitment". In each of the planning phases of the At Home/Chez Soi project in Montreal, at least two advocacy coalitions were in confrontation about their specific belief systems concerning solutions to address the recurring homelessness social problem, while a third, more moderate one contributed in rallying most key actors under specified secondary aspects. The study confirms the importance of policy brokers in achieving compromises acceptable to all advocacy coalitions.
['Fleury|Marie-Josée|MJ|', 'Grenier|Guy|G|', 'Vallée|Catherine|C|', 'Hurtubise|Roch|R|', 'Lévesque|Paul-André|PA|']
D002170:Canada D003254:Consumer Advocacy D003299:Cooperative Behavior D006703:Homeless Persons D006798:Housing D006801:Humans D007373:Interinstitutional Relations D001523:Mental Disorders D015397:Program Evaluation D036301:Qualitative Research D019966:Substance-Related Disorders
Coalitions Implementation process Homelessness Mental health