Guest Editor's Introduction

Ronald E. Wilson, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or the U.S. government at large.

The increasing role of geographical analysis in solving social problems is not just a practical response by government agencies. Illustrated in this issue of Cityscape is the incorporation of geographic methods and techniques toward understanding issues of crime and disorder, two major negative influences on the quality of life in urban America. The primary emphasis in the use of this new approach is on the delivery of programs and services to people through place as a means to increase the impact of federal, state, and local investments on the quality of life in urban neighborhoods.