This book investigates the social and spatial mechanisms driving local community opposition, often termed the NIMBY syndrome, toward facilities serving homeless populations and individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Lois M. Takahashi, a scholar in urban planning and geography, utilizes a mixed-methods approach to analyze how societal definitions of stigma influence the siting of human services. By integrating economic, political, and demographic data, the author argues that community resistance is not merely a localized reaction but a reflection of broader structural changes in the welfare state and municipal governance. The work provides a theoretical framework for understanding how institutions and courts adjudicate these contentious land-use disputes.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the intersection of urban geography and social policy. Scholars frequently cite the book for its rigorous application of stigma theory to the practical challenges of public health facility placement.