An article in the Washington Post highlights the increase in homelessness as a result of the economic downturn, which has left homeless many families and individuals who previously had steady jobs and housing.  Women now make up 81% of adults in homeless families, and tend to be younger than 30 with children under age 5.  The article reports that homelessness among families has almost tripled since 2007 in some parts of the country, with large hits taken by some formerly prosperous areas.