Public-Private Leadership and the Role of Nonprofit Organizations in Local Government: The Case of Social Services

Abstract

This article examines the role of nonprofit organizations in public-private collaboration to advocate, plan, coordinate, and deliver social services to the homeless. The research is based on a national survey of cities with populations greater than 50,000. Results show that nonprofit organizations are significant driving forces for homelessness efforts and that collective public-private strategies, with nonprofit organizations playing important roles, are significantly related to the range and targeting of homelessness efforts toward local needs. Selected economic, social, and community conditions are identified that are associated with driving forces involving nonprofit organizations and the strategies they use.