RECENT EVALUATIONS HAVE SHOWN THAT THERE IS A LARGE AND GROWING GAP BETWEEN WHAT WE EXPECT FROM GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED HUMAN SERVICE SYSTEMS, AND WHAT THESE SYSTEMS IN FACT DELIVER. THIS GAP - KNOWN AS THE 'HUMAN SERVICES SHORTFALL' - RESULTS FROM THE FACT THAT EXISTING PROGRAMS CANNOT BE ADEQUATELY FINANCED FROM AVAILABLE TAX REVENUES. SEVERAL LEADING PUBLIC FIGURES WERE ASKED TO PROVIDE AN ASSESSMENT OF THE SERIOUSNESS AND PROBABLE CONSEQUENCES OF THE HUMAN SERVICES SHORTFALL CRISIS, AND TO OUTLINE THEIR PROPOSALS FOR WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO TO EASE THIS ISSUE, WRITTEN BY THESE RESPONSES ARE PRESENTED IN THIS ISSUE, WRITTEN BY SUCH PUBLIC FIGURES AS JIMMY CARTER, AMITAI ETZIONI, HENRY FORD, MARTHA GRIFFITHS, RICHARD NATHAN, ELLIOT RICHARDSON, AND CAROL WEISS. SOLUTIONS OFFERED INCLUDE INCREASED EVALUATION OF EXISTING PROGRAMS, USE OF A FEDERAL 'BLOCK GRANT' FUNDING APPROACH FOR STATE-OPERATED HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAMS, LIMITATIONS ON PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED BY THESE PROGRAMS, REDUCING THE NUMBER OF PROGRAMS FINANCED, AND INCREASED RESEARCH. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...DMC