In 1997, the Institute for Children and Poverty of Homes for the Homeless joined with more than 58 organizations from 10 cities across the country to develop a national snapshot of family homelessness in the United States. Nearly 800 families were surveyed. This report presents the results of this research. The typical homeless family in the United States is composed of a single mother, about 30 years old, with between two and three children averaging 5 years of age. African Americans are heavily over-represented among homeless families. Rates of educational attainment among homeless parents vary by city, but in 9 of the 10 cities, homeless parents over age 25 have education levels beneath those of the general population. This disparity grows even wider when all homeless parents, regardless of age, are taken into account. While 75% of persons 25 and older in the general population have completed high school, only 68% of homeless parents 25 and older have finished high school, and only 63% of all homeless parents have completed high school. In New York, less than half (47%) of homeless parents have completed high school. Most homeless parents are currently unemployed, although 72% have some work experience. The greatest single determinant of employment for these parents is education. Employment alone, however, is no guarantee that a homeless parent can support a family. Many factors contribute to undereducation, but teen pregnancy ranks among the leading explanations. The prevalence of undereducation, unemployment, and long-term welfare dependence among homeless families is dramatic, if not surprising, given findings from previous research. Nineteen percent of homeless parents had graduated from high school or earned their General Education Diplomas. Issues of education and employment clearly lie at the roots of homelessness for many families, yet no one explanation can account for the multiple and complex routes to homelessness among families. Homeless parents understand the importance of education, with over 72% recognizing that a high school diploma is necessary for independence; but the bridge between belief and action in limited, with only 19% taking steps by participating in educational programs. Local data on homeless families are presented for each of the 10 cities studied. A discussion of secondary data sources is included. (Contains 5 figures and 11 tables.) (SLD)