The United States has seen tremendous growth in the percentage of the homeless population who are families. According to the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness1, between 1985 and 1995, the percentage of homeless families as a proportion of the total homeless population grew from just over a quarter (27 percent) to over a third (36.5 percent). At the same time, the percentage of homeless who are single men fell from 60 percent in 1985 to 46 percent in 1995. The absolute number of homeless people has grown as well, making the increase of homeless families effectively even greater families are the fastest growing group among the homeless in the United States. Although intense disagreement remains about the number of homeless people overall and within each subgroup, few dispute the growing prominence of homeless families.