Street-Level Organizations at the Front Lines of Crises

When crises strike, street-level organizations (SLOs) form the frontline response, providing essential services on which society depends. Yet the role of SLOs as crisis responders has received little theoretical attention. This article considers that role, advancing a theoretical framework for understanding how SLOs respond to the extraordinary conditions that crises bring, exploring how they matter to policy and politics, and identifying an agenda for future research.Note: In the interests of space, street-level theory and the pandemic context underpinning the articles for this Special Issue are discussed in detail in the Introduction to the Issue.