This packet contains documents that provide general information about homelessness and the need for both Federal and local action to help the homeless people in America. Sections 1 and 2 contain the following articles released by the Homelessness Information Exchange: (1) "The Problem of Homelessness Nationwide"; and "Alternative Family Housing Projects." Section 3 is an article by the National Coalition for the Homeless, "Homelessness in America: A Summary" that includes a list of relevant publications to order and organizations to contact. Section 4 contains a report from the U.S. General Accounting Office entitled "Homelessness: A Complex Problem and the Federal Response." Section 5 contains a report from the Democratic Study Group of the U.S. House of Representatives. Section 6 contains the following articles about Federal funding: (1) "Programs and Funding for the Homeless Enacted in the 100th Congress" issued by CRS Report for Congress; and (2) "Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act Appropriations 1989." Section 7 comprises the following newspaper articles on homelessness: (1) "Homeless/Hunger on Rise, Mayor's Report Reveals"; (2) "Continued Rise In Emergency Needs Predicted In National Survey"; (3) "Hunger, Homelessness Up Steeply, Mayors Say"; (4) "Food and Shelter Demand Increasing"; (5) "Homeless In America"; (6) "Little Separates the Homeless from Rest of Us, Says Professor"; (7) "Contemporary Homelessness Represents Qualitative Change In Poverty"; (8) "Study Predicts 18.7 Million Americans Will Lack Affordable Housing by 2003"; (9) "Federal Government Must Take The Lead In Alleviating Suffering Of Homeless"; (10) "Why Does Homelessness Continue?"; (11) "Rural Areas See Homeless Rising; Report Calls For Emergency Relief"; (12) "Homelessness and the Mentally Ill: A Societal Tragedy--More Funds Needed for Mental Health Plan"; (13) "Homelessness and Social Ties"; (14) "Homeless Health Needs Examined in Hearings"; and (15) "Nutrition And The Homeless: Part II: Special Needs." Section 8 contains a bibliography with 15 references. Section 9 contains a list of free publications available to the public. Section 10 contains a list of eight publications available from the Homelessness Information Exchange. Three charts, two graphs, and two tables are included. (JS)