Catholic charities and church groups have been actively engaged in providing basic shelter needs for homeless people long before the issue of homelessness came to the national attention. The purpose of this hearing was to allow the U.S. Catholic Conference and its Domestic Policy Committee to present its report, "Homelessness and Housing: A Human Tragedy, A Moral Challenge." The statement is included in the appendices. Testimony was presented by five witnesses, including a resident of a shelter for the homeless in Washington, D.C. Issues raised included the following: (1) a federal commitment to subsidized housing is necessary; (2) the Catholic Church can function as an effective intermediary in implementing public-private cooperative housing programs; (3) federal funds need to be appropriated to implement the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, provide rental subsidies, and expand low- and middle-income housing; (4) present assistance programs are inadequate; and (5) the federal government must preserve and expand the supply of quality housing. The appendices include seven prepared statements, and the 1987 Annual Report of the Community Development Corporation. (FMW)