FYI: Requests for emergency shelter assistance around the country grew by 19 percent in the last year according to a U.S. Conference of Mayors survey. The survey, to be released this afternoon, also found emergency food assistance requests climbed by 19 percent. The cities surveyed, which did not include New York, most often cited high housing costs as the cause of hunger in their city. Over half noted that they were not able to provide enough food aid to meet the demand. [12/18/02]