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Emergency shelters, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing are distinct programmatic responses to address the housing and service needs of the homeless population under the Continuum of Care (CoC) model for homeless service delivery. Using organizational-level data collected from a multi-site survey of 300 homeless residential programs in 14 communities, this study examines the extent to which operationalization of these programs is in accordance with the CoC model. Findings suggest consistency with as well as deviation from the CoC model in the operationalization of homeless residential programs. Recommendations are provided for local community service planning and development that can assure effective delivery of services for meeting the needs of homeless people. KEYWORDS. Continuum of care, homeless service delivery, management practices, organizational analysis

This article introduces and illustrates the application of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to examine patterns of social services use in community-based interventions. By integrating management information system data from human service agencies and publicly accessible data from the U.S. Census within a spatially-referenced framework, the study illustrates that GIS analysis could help managers and planners of social services to assess the extent to which program implementation reflects adherence to a program concept and identify geographical areas with the greatest unmet service needs. The article demonstrates the application of GIS technology, based on an analysis of a citywide community-based homelessness prevention program in Philadelphia. KEYWORDS. Community-based interventions, homelessness prevention, geographic information system, social service utilization