Nation: New York City homeless population rising The Associated Press

NEW YORK (August 1, 2001 11:57 p.m. EDT) - New York City officials predicted a record number of homeless in the city this fall, saying the number of families staying in shelters each night has already climbed to its highest level ever.

The Coalition for the Homeless cited city figures Wednesday showing a record 6,252 families - including 11,594 children - in temporary beds, bringing the total number of homeless people in city shelters to 28,029.

"Homelessness is going to reach an all-time high here for men, women and children by mid-September," said Mary Brosnahan Sullivan, director of the coalition. The city's record high came in March 1987 when 28,737 people overall were in shelters.

Not only are more families homeless, but they tend to remain homeless longer. City records show the average stay in a shelter has increased from five months in 1990, to 11 months in 2000.

-- Guy Daley (guydaley1@netzero.net), August 02, 2001