Mobilization at the Margins: Resources, Benefactors, and the Viability of Homeless Social Movement Organizations

• Published in: American sociological review Vol. 61; no. 6; pp. 1089 - 1109
• Main Authors: Cress, Daniel M., Snow, David A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Sociological Association 01.12.1996
• Subjects: Agricultural Laborers; Cities; Collective action; Comparative Analysis; Conceptualization; Economic resources; Farmworkers; Field study; Grass roots movement; HOMELESS PEOPLE; Homelessness; Housing; Hypotheses; Information resources; Marginalized people; Mobilization; Organization; Organizational Effectiveness; Organizations; Patronage; Personality; Political protests; Political sociology; Public Policy (homeless); Resource allocation; Resource scarcity; Resource utilization; Resources; Social activism; Social Control; Social movement organizations; Social Movements; Social movements. Revolutions; Sociology; Typology; U.S.A; United States of America; USA; Viability; United States Of America; New York; United States > US; Chicago Illinois; Gift; Ethnography; Homeless; Organization; Poverty; Resource; Social movement; Typology; City; Comparative analysis; Metropolitan Area; Patronage
• ISSN: 0003-1224; 1939-8271
• DOI: 10.2307/2096310

For over two decades, resources have been assumed to be a fundamental determinant of the course and character of social movement organizations (SMOs) and their activities. Yet surprisingly little research evaluates this taken-for-granted assumption. Using data from ethnographic fieldwork on 15 homeless SMOs in eight U.S. cities, we construct an empirically grounded typology of resources and assess the combinations of resources necessary for the viability of homeless SMOs. We then examine the sources of support for these organizations, highlighting the influence of benefactor organizations on SMO viability and tactics. Employing qualitative comparative analysis, we identify three resource configurations among the viable SMOs and find that certain resource types contributed more than others to viability. Support from benefactors also ensured viability of these organizations without moderating their tactics. We explain the implications of these findings for understanding the roles that resources and sponsorship or patronage play in the careers of SMOs and the relevance of resources, sponsorship, and organization to social movements of the poor.