The debate on quality in homeless services has formed over the past few years, and is linked to reflections about quality criteria in other social services. Quality criteria for homeless services are perceived by some as a way to achieve and maintain quality. Questions have nonetheless arisen about the appropriateness of assigning criteria to flexible and transitional services. On the one hand, it is argued that service providers can create pathways out of homelessness by developing high quality services which meet the needs of service users. On the other hand, concerns about the detrimental effects of a “one-size-fits-all” approach that does not take into account the specificity of homeless services are pervasive.