Emergency Shelter Requests
Average increase across the survey cities: 6 %
Average increase by homeless families with children: 7 %
Average length of time people remain homeless: 8 months
Percent of the shelter requests by homeless people that were unmet: 23 %
Percent of the shelter requests by homeless families that were unmet: 32 %

The Homeless Population
Single men: 41 %
Single women: 14 %
Families with children: 40 %
Unaccompanied youth: 5 %
Families headed by a single parent: 66 %

African-American: 49 %
White: 35 %
Hispanic: 13 %
Native American: 2 %
Asian: 1 %

Mentally Ill: 23 %
Substance abusers: 30 %
Employed in full-or part-time jobs: 17 %
Veterans: 10 %

Emergency Shelter Facilities
Overall increase in emergency shelter beds: 13 %
Average increase in emergency shelter beds for homeless families: 16 %

Officials in 52 % of the survey cities report that homeless families may have to leave shelters in which they are staying during the day.

Source: US Conference of Mayors, A Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in America’s Cities (Washington, DC, 2004). For the complete report and to see the list of cities surveyed, go to www.usmayors.org. Note: The only Texas city participating in this 27-city survey was San Antonio.
Statistics from the 2004 U.S. Conference of Mayors' Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in America's Cities