HONOLULU (AP) - The waiting lists for homeless shelters throughout Hawaii are growing as the economic downturn continues.

The Hawaii Public Housing Authority said there were 472 families on waiting lists for homeless shelters in August, an increase of 65 families from May.

At the same time, there were 1,637 single people on waiting lists last month, up from 1,278 singles in May.

Utu Langi, who manages the state's Next Step homeless shelter in Honolulu, called the people seeking shelter ''victims of the economy.''

Doran Porter of the Affordable Housing and Homeless Alliance said the situation is going to get worse as people's unemployment benefits and other resources run out.