THE SERVICE HUB CONCEPT IN HUMAN-SERVICES PLANNING

This monograph examines how the concept of a 'service hub' could assis t in the delivery of human services. This concept emphasizes and build s upon the networks that exist between human service clients and the f acilities designed to help them and concludes that by co-location of f acilities relative to groups in need, a more effective service deliver y is achieved. The problematic of human services focuses on the notion of service hubs, but also incorporates four other elements: assessing and assigning needy clients to appropriate treatment settings; facili tating the actual and potential social networks of clients; addressing the relationship between the service facility and its host community; and determining the socio-spatial goals of the service delivery syste m. The principles of the service hub concept involve the co-location o f a set of relatively small-scale, community-based facilities in such close physical proximity that interaction between them is feasible to the extent that the set of facilities functions as an integrated unit. Service hub interaction depends on the effectiveness of the assignmen t and referral process, as well as the hub's ability to capitalize on client-coping networks. Two case studies of service hubs in Los Angele s underscore the significance of geography in service hub structure an d in the lives of homeless people. A third case study demonstrates how service hubs are constructed by adding-on carefully selected faciliti es to existing community networks. As any plan for the construction of a region-wide system of service hubs is likely to run into community opposition at the local level, such a plan should also include a commu nity outreach program as part of its overall strategy. 'Fair-share' pr inciples in regional human service systems are also considered, and th e fundamental issue of overcoming stigma and discrimination based on d isability and difference is highlighted in a future research agenda.