The increase in homelessness over the past decade has created what many consider a significant social problem. When other agencies or programs fail, the police are called upon to confront social ills. To the extent that society criminalizes homelessness, law enforcement will become increasingly embroiled in this complex social situation. However, homelessness is not simply a law enforcement problem. It is an interwoven set of social, economic, public and mental health issues that require a coordinated response, one that includes law enforcement in the planning and implementation process. Issues that must be considered include: (1) numbers of the homeless; (2) identifying who are the homeless; (3) the relationship between homelessness and mental illness; (4) public health issues (HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, high-risk sexual activity, drug-related problems); (5) legal issues (sleeping in parks, panhandling, littering); and (6) strain on local resources. Notes