Most residents said they preferred tents to the crowded shelters, which they said forced people into regimented schedules, and did not allow pets.

Nick could hear the even breathing of those asleep around him in what was now a crowded shelter.

The increase is evident in the crowded shelters that homeless families are occupying for longer stretches.

He could finally escape the crowded shelter at the Reliant Center.

Communicable diseases are of great concern, especially tuberculosis, which spreads more easily in crowded homeless shelters in high density urban settings.

The work is draining and often maddening, given crowded shelters, unreachable welfare caseworkers, and occasional crank calls.

They offered crowded shelter mainly to desperate newcomers from abroad.

Such people are susceptible to getting diseases like tuberculosis, pneumonia and influenza in crowded shelters, the advocates argue.

But it was not a crowded shelter for evacuees like the one she just left behind, and for now, at least, it belongs only to her family.

Those with gardens often built Anderson Shelters to take refuge in but not everyone was so fortunate and others had to use crowded public shelters.