Can we assess a community as we assess an individual? Do persons and communities have the same needs, patterns of behavior, and goals? These questions led us to test whether we could assess a community as we assess an individual. Because the Home Health Division of the Catholic Charities Center of the Old Colony Area had been using the functional-pattern approach in assessing families, we decided to use the same approach in assessing our community. Gordon (1982b) suggested using the functional-pattern approach in community assessment, so we decided to accept this challenge. This article describes this tool-its rationale, development, implementation, testing, and analysis-and makes recommendations for further study. We hope to share ideas and to generate a scholarly discussion of the functional-pattern approach to community assessment.