The people of Boston made a commitment that no homeless person will be denied a bed, a meal, quality health care, and transportation to shelter during the winter of 1989-90. This commitment was difficult to fulfill due to a decline in services for the mentally ill, federal housing cutbacks, and an increase in the number of families living in poverty. Nearly half of Boston's homeless come from outside the city. Boston provides 66 percent of the shelter beds in the state, over half of which are occupied by the chronically mentally ill. The number of shelter beds has increased 213 percent since 1983, and over $63 million have been allocated for the homeless since 1984. The Health Care for the Homeless Program has provided services to over 12,000 people since 1985. The city has used $5.8 million under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act for a variety of housing, food, and health care programs. Despite the decline of federal housing projects, the city has added over 15,000 units of affordable housing, the highest of any comparable-sized city. Over the past 5 years, 2,200 of the 3,750 vacant apartments in public housing have been rehabilitated and full occupancy is expected by the end of 1991. A key element of the city's approach has been to go beyond basic shelter needs and to help homeless persons become self-sufficient by developing transitional and single-room occupancy (SRO) housing. Statistical data are included on two tables and seven graphs. The following material is appended: (1) one table of statistical data on the number of beds in homeless shelters, 1983-90; (2) a copy of the September 1989 homeless mentally ill survey questionnaire; and (3) a list of awards to Boston under the Stewart B. McKinney Act. (FMW)