I need information on the number of homeless families nationwide, and
specifically in NYC, in 1975, 1985, 1990 and now. (The years are
approximations, I just need stats from around those times, or the
overall trends between 1975 and now.)Since the homeless population is
difficult to measure, there may be many different estimates--that's
fine, just give me whatever differing estimations you find. Evidence
from: studies and censuses; government, non-profit and academic
estimates; and even just anecdotal evidence noting trends between
these dates, would be good. I will add a tip for the more information
that is given and the faster it is given. Thanks.

<New York figures.
According to the Coalition for the Homeless the number of homeless
families in 2003 was 9213. In 1998 the number was 4429.
http://wwwcoalitionforthehomeless.org:8080/top/CFTH/downloads/nychomelessness01.pdf

July 2002 – 8,333 families in shelters
http://www.ibo.nyc.ny.us/newsfax/insidethebudget106.pdf

October 2001 – 6596 families in shelters
http://www.ibo.nyc.ny.us/newsfax/insidethebudget93.pdf

July 2000 – 6,252 families in New York
http://www.universityofthepoor.org/library/articles/sheltNYC.htm

New York City had an annual rate of 232 homeless families in shelters
per 10,000 families in the city in the period 1988 to 1992.
http://www.futureofchildren.org/information2827/information_show.htm?doc_id=73318

The Coalition for the Homeless gives a daily census for the number of
families in the New York City shelter system. See figure 50.
1983 – 2137
1984 – 3010
1985 – 3708
1986 – 4286
1987 – 4949
1988 – 5091
1989 – 4105
1990 – 3591
1991 – 4558
1992 – 5270
1993 – 5618
1994 – 5633
1995 – 5647
1996 – 5692
1997 – 4747
1998 – 4567
1999 – 4988
(Source: New York City Department of Homeless Services and Human
Resources Administration)
http://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org:8080/top/CFTH/downloads/housing_growing_city_2002.pdf

Homelessness became visible in the late 1970’s when the homeless began
sleeping on the streets. It is difficult to estimate how many were
homeless at that time as there were few shelters providing assistance
and it seems that no-one was bothering to count the number of
homeless. Modern Mass Homelessness in New York City traces the history
of homelessness from 1979.
http://216.239.39.100/search?q=cache:h8Br0krMAncC:www.coalitionforthehomeless.org:8080/top/CFTH/downloads/callahanhistory2002.pdf+%22homelessness+in+new+york+city%22+history&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
The trends in homelessness from the late 70’s  are discussed at this
site.
http://webdev.maxwell.syr.edu/jyinger/ppa730%20786/Housing%20as%20Cure.htm



National figures.

Current figures.
2.3 million adults are homeless. Families account for 38% of the
homeless.
http://www.helpusa.org/statistics/

2001 – on any one night 750,000 americans are homeless, approximately
50% are in families.
http://www.goodwillinn.org/goodwill_inn_homeless_shelter___how_many_are_homeless_.htm

1988 - the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) estimated that between
80,000 and 400,000 children were likely to be homeless or doubled up,
living with friends and extended family.
http://www.futureofchildren.org/information2826/information_show.htm?doc_id=73315
http://www.futureofchildren.org/information2850/information_show.htm?doc_id=75936

1987 – estimated 1 million homeless
http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00019922.htm

1987 – estimates of between 500,000 – 600,000 in one week.
http://www.insee.fr/en/ffc/docs_ffc/ds9972.html


<Additional links :>

<Statistics 2001>
<http://www.ysop.org/statistics.htm>

<Homeless families with children>
<http://www.nationalhomeless.org/families.html>

<Homeless families and children>
<http://www.futureofchildren.org/information2826/information_show.htm?doc_id=73315>

<National statistics>
<http://www.uwcnm.org/information/homelessness.htm#National%20Statistics>

<Facts about the homeless>
<http://www.nationalhomeless.org/facts.html>


<Search strategy:>

<"new york city" "number of homeless">
<://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%22new+york+city%22&as_q=%22number+of+homeless%22>

<"new york city" "number of homeless families">
<://www.google.com/search?q=%22new+york+city%22+%22number+of+homeless+families%22+&hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1>


<Hope this helps.>

Perfect answer--it provided all the information I was looking for, and very quickly.