ABSTRACT
It is reasonable to question why in this volume about public policies for the elderly we have chosen to put issues of housing and social services in the same chapter. Traditional differences between the two subjects are immediately apparent. Many housing programs are supported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); many social service programs are provided through the Administration on Aging (AoA). Housing represents bricks and mortar, and social services include food programs, activities, senior centers, counseling and education. However, there is today a growing realization that if housing programs for the elderly are to succeed, especia11y in meeting the changing needs of those who age in place, they must be accompanied by a responsive social service program. The issue of sponsorship or in whose domain a program lies is of less concern than ensuring the availability of services for older persons. In addition to the relationship among a11 public policies (i.e., income, health, employment, housing and social services), there is a particularly symbiotic relationship between housing and social services policies, a point that will be elaborated upon in this chapter.
