This inquiry has three aims. Firstly, the study attempted to delineate selected social characteristics of a sample of the public assistance clients served by the City Social Service Department, Vancouver. Secondly, the preferences of the client population were sought concerning the affect of urban renewal plans in the Scheme III area. Thirdly, the thesis attempted to describe, the client population's image of the City Social Service Department. A hypothetical construct concerning the social characteristics of public assistance clients was cast in the form of five hypotheses. The depth interview was utilized as the major tool including sections concerning all three aims. Hypotheses were constructed concerning the second and third aims. The findings indicate that the client groups' social characteristics do include a minority of alienated and low morale attitudes. An absolute- level of deprivation as a social factor was largely absent. The hypothetical construct, was rejected. The study indicates that the majority of the study population prefers private housing to public housing; but feels that government should offer both public and private housing alternatives to clients dispossessed by urban renewal plans. The image of the City Social Service Department is described as extraordinarily positive with two reservations. Firstly, the social assistance rates are inadequate. Secondly, the agency staff has insufficient time to adequately discharge their duties. The study's main conclusion is that further research is required to substantiate or reject, the impressions gained' from this exploratory sample survey. A wider range of intervening variables must be more closely defined and examined. This study's restricted range and depth did not permit more than tentative conclusions to be drawn concerning the relationship between variables. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate