Citizens For Social Justice

Social Justice Research Program

Citizens for Social Justice, Inc. is dedicated to fostering the next generation of scholarship on social problems and social change.  We provide administrative support for studies at both the undergraduate and graduate levels by assisting students with locating faculty supervisors and securing research funding.  We prioritize research endeavors that inform our homelessness and poverty reduction efforts.  Our current research focus is on homeless rights, critical theories of punitive justice, and the affect of our work on student civic engagement and service involvement.  We encourage interdisciplinary and otherwise innovative approaches to these topics.  For information on how to become a Social Justice Research Fellow, please contact Interim Director of Research Dirk Sampselle at President@citizensforsocialjustice.com.

Economics and Public Policy Research Questions

Are correctional and emergency health care systems economically efficient methods for dealing with homeless individuals? (real cost of hospital beds, jail beds vs. apartments)

 

Research Topics

We welcome research from all disciplines within the social sciences, and seek research on topics that will bolster our current projects and inform our future endeavors.  For ideas on topics we would support, see our factsheets, as well as the sample Federal Housing study posted here, and the information posted below.

We encourage social science perspectives such as community organizing theory, public policy analysis, and social psychology, and we prioritize original studies on topics relevant to our project endeavors.  One example would be analysis of a case of homeless community organizing, identifying key characteristics of the movement, and providing analysis of requisites for its success or precursors of its failure.  Another example would be an analysis of a case of homeless "fear mongering," and the resulting polarization of policy discussions regarding homelessness due to stereotyping, labelling, and prejudicial treatment of the subject in public discussions.  The opportunities for research here are endless, and span disciplinary boundaries.

However, we also welcome summary reports of existing research, amalgamated under topics relevant to our student-run homeless education project.  An example would be a review of service learning studies and the impacts of service learning projects on students' academic and personal development.  Another example would be an historical analysis of different homeless rehabilitation models (see, e.g., Hull House) or a summary of contemporary  programs (see, e.g., Delancey Street Foundation), citing their distinctive characteristics and comparative success rates.  Such summaries will be informative for our efforts, and serve also as a platform for future research.

Finally, we welcome research related not directly to our homeless endeavors in subject matter, but relevant in principle and theory.  An example of such research would be a study of immigrant assimilation theory and cases of formal and informal immigrant assimilation programs: what characteristics define a formal cultural assimilation program?  Which programs are successful?  How is success determined?  What cultural exchanges take place, and how is identity retained or altered?  Another example would be a philosophical inquiry into concepts of distributive justice or liberty.  How do such concepts inform our sense of justice with respect to homeless individuals?

We hope this review of research types and sample topics has been useful to you, and we look forward to reading your proposals.