Served or unserved? A site suitability analysis of social services in Atlanta, Georgia using Geographic Information Systems

Abstract

Geographers, planners and public health officials are increasingly interested in working with community partners, organizations, and residents to engage in action oriented research designed to impact positive community change. One growing area of community-based research focuses on geographic examinations of aspects of social service accessibility. In this study, we work with multiple community partners in an urban area to examine the spatial distribution of social service providers. We also identify potential new locations for social service providers that can meet the unmet demands for such services. We utilize a Public Participation GIS framework to create shared community resources and research deliverables for our community partners. The results of our work help local providers, leaders, and community residents to visualize gaps and coverage in social services across urban space; draw attention to additional forces that shape access, i.e. public transportation, walkability, and zoning codes; and confirm the anecdotal evidence of poor accessibility presented by neighborhood leaders and residents. The work has practical and actionable implications for lower income urban communities and methodological implications for the disciplines of geography, public health and planning.