More families with children are becoming homeless as they face economic difficulties, such as home foreclosures and job losses, according to a survey conducted by USA Today.

The newspaper surveyed government and nonprofit officials in 12 of the largest cities of the United States. These authorities say the number of families seeking help has risen in Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Minneapolis, New York, Phoenix, Portland, Seattle, and Washington. In New York City, for example, 2,747 families applied for shelter in September 2008, up 30 percent from 2,087 in September 2007.