Analyzing Community Problems

Posted :September 19, 2018

Updated :September 19, 2018

Assessing Community Needs and Resources :
Analyzing Community Problems

COMMUNITIES HAVE PROBLEMS, JUST LIKE PEOPLE
WHAT IS A COMMUNITY PROBLEM?
WHAT IS ANALYZING COMMUNITY PROBLEMS ALL ABOUT?
WHY SHOULD I ANALYZE A COMMUNITY PROBLEM?
HOW SHOULD I ANALYZE A COMMUNITY PROBLEM?
WHEN SHOULD I ANALYZE A COMMUNITY PROBLEM?
GOING BEYOND THE BASICS -- DOES ANALYSIS REALLY WORK?

COMMUNITIES HAVE PROBLEMS, JUST LIKE PEOPLE

Problems are part of life -- they go together with being alive. And every community has problems, too; they go together with being a community. That's just a fact of community life.

Two more basic facts:

Communities, like people, try to solve their problems.
And analyzing those problems helps in their solution.

Example, A community problem. The downtown area of a community is declining. Stores are closing, and moving out; no new stores are moving in. We want to revitalize that downtown. How should we do it?

Our thinking here is simple:

We'd be better off analyzing why that decline is taking place, why the problem is occurring, rather than simply jumping in and trying to fix it.
A good analysis will lead to better long-run solutions. And therefore:
A good analysis is worth taking the time to do.

So this section explains what analyzing community problems is about, and why it can be helpful -- and then how to do it.

WHAT IS A COMMUNITY PROBLEM?

This covers a lot of ground. There's a long list of nominees. And you probably know some of the main contenders. Can you name the leading problems in your own community? Chances are you can at least start the list.

Below are examples of community problems:

Example Community Problems: Adolescent pregnancy, access to clean drinking water, child abuse and neglect, crime, domestic violence, drug use, environmental contamination, ethnic conflict, health disparities, HIV/ AIDS, hunger, inadequate emergency services, inequality, jobs, lack of affordable housing, poverty, racism, transportation, violence.

WHAT OTHERS WOULD YOU ADD?

Rather than aim for a complete problem list, here are some criteria you may consider when identifying community problems:

The problem occurs too frequently (frequency)
The problem has lasted for a while (duration)
The problem affects many people (scope, or range)
The problem is disrupting to personal or community life, and possibly intense (severity)
The problem deprives people of legal or moral rights (equity)
The issue is perceived as a problem (perception)

This last criterion -- perception -- is an important one, and can also help indicate readiness for addressing the issue within the community.

Keep in mind that what is seen as a problem can vary from place to place, and from group to group in the same place. Although there's no official definition of a community problem, the above examples and criteria above should help you begin to name and analyze community problems.

WHAT IS ANALYZING COMMUNITY PROBLEMS ALL ABOUT?

Analyzing community problems is a way of thinking carefully about a problem or issue before acting on a solution. It first involves identifying reasons a problem exists, and then (and only then) identifying possible solutions and a plan for improvement. The techniques for analyzing community problems require simple logic, and sometimes the collection of evidence.

WHY SHOULD I ANALYZE A COMMUNITY PROBLEM?

To better identify what the problem or issue is.

Kids gather on a street. Sometimes they drink; sometimes they get rowdy. What is the problem here? The drinking? The rowdiness? The gathering itself? Or, the possible fact that kids have nowhere else to go and few positive alternatives for engagement? Before looking for solutions, you would want to clarify just what is the problem (or problems) here. Unless you are clear, it's hard to move forward.

To understand what is at the heart of a problem.

A problem is usually caused by something; what is that something? We should find out. And often the problem we see is a symptom of something else.

To determine the barriers and resources associated with addressing the problem.

It's good practice and planning to anticipate barriers and obstacles before they might rise up. By doing so, you can get around them. Analyzing community problems can also help you understand the resources you need. And the better equipped you are with the right resources, the greater your chances of success.

To develop the best action steps for addressing the problem.

Having a plan of action is always better than taking a few random shots at the problem. If you know where you are going, you are more likely to get there.

In general, when you tackle a problem, it's almost always smarter to analyze it before you begin. That way, you've got a deeper understanding of the problem; and you've covered your bases. There's nothing worse for member involvement and morale than starting to work on a problem, and running up against lots of obstacles -- especially when they are avoidable.

When you take a little time to examine a problem first, you can anticipate some of these obstacles before they come up, and give yourself and your members better odds of coming up with a successful solution.