The enumeration of homeless individuals is a topic of great importance to programs and professionals serving them, as funding for essential services to this population is often contingent upon quantitative evidence that a significant problem exists. However, this task is often difficult due to methodological quandaries such as the lack of a standard definition of homelessness, variations in study locales, and the transience of the homeless population. The paper examines some methodological issues in counting the homeless, specifically in the context of the most extensive effort to estimate a national figure to date: the 1984 study conducted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). By evaluating the relative methodological strengths and weaknesses of this older (but still highly relevant) study, the reader can better evaluate relevant factors pertinent in arriving at an accurate estimate of this highly vulnerable population.