Are Hate Crimes against the Homeless a Growing Trend?

This is so beyond disturbing!  Are Hate Crimes against the Homeless a Growing Trend?  Especially horrifing are the amount of stories of homeless people being set afire! (Reference to link above) List of Headlines on Murders of Homeless People & Hate Crimes Against Them USA- Group stomps man, 39, to death  USA- Hate crime murders of homeless people a USA trend - NCH  USA- Band of teens sought in fatal slaying of homeless man  USA- Homeless man dies after third beating by teens  USA- Homeless woman set afire  USA- Hit-and-run victim lived for two days while trapped in windshield  USA-Teens Accused of Homeless Stun-Gun Attacks  Japan- An Incident report in Nagai Park Tent Village  Japan- Japanese introduced to homeless  Japan- Boys allegedly forced man to drown  Australia- Soccer group uses homeless man for target practice  Canada- Montreal cop found "not guilty" in death of homeless man  A recent study attempts to track a disturbing national trend   USA-Homeless & Heartbroken-Death of feisty, tiny 'Little Bit' leaves street people saddened - and scared  Updates RE Stun Gun Attacks:Teenager is sentenced in attack on homeless  RE Hit-and-run victim:Motorist given 50 year-sentence in windshield murder trial  Harsher penalties sought for attacks on homeless

From the National Coalition for the Homeless: HATE:A Compilation of Violent Crimes Committed Against Homeless People in the U.S. in 2001 New! From the National Coalition for the Homeless:  Hate Crimes Report 2003  Also, please see their Hate Crimes Sign On, which is "A Call to Investigate the Violent Acts and Crimes Committed Against People Experiencing Homelessness".