ABSTRACT
The extent of homelessness throughout the nation has not, however, been studied systematically, nor has the question of whether homeless people are concentrated in certain parts of the nation or in certain types of cities. Clearly, such information is basic to an understanding of the scope and nature of the homeless problem in the United States. "Homelessness" refers to people in the "streets" who, in seeking shelter, have no alternative but to obtain it from a private or public agency. The metropolitan population is used since there is consensus among observers that there are few homeless persons in suburban areas. Homeless persons tend to be drawn to central city areas. The 1980 Census attempted to account for highly transient individuals, not counted using other procedures, by means of a "casual count" of homeless persons at places such as employment offices, bus and train stations, welfare offices, food stamp centers, pool halls, and street corners.
