Conditions for involving vulnerable citizens in co-production: the importance of commitment

This article investigates the conditions enabling vulnerable citizens’ involve-ment in co‐production through an ethnographic study of a Dutch self‐managedhomeless shelter. The shelter’s model delegates significant daily responsibilitiesand decision‐making authority to service users, challenging traditional provi-der‐led approaches. Findings reveal that effective co‐production depends ona well‐aligned programme structure, group commitment, sustained supportfrom frontline staff, organizational management and external stakeholders.Although tensions between user empowerment and other service values occa-sionally emerge, the case illustrates that with appropriate enabling conditions,highly vulnerable groups can meaningfully shape public service delivery.