GRAND JURY GETS DATA FROM SNYDER

Mitch Snyder's request that a grand jury investigate whether federal officials lied to Congress and a U.S. District Court judge about preparation of a 1984 report on the number of homeless people in the country was given yesterday to the foreman of a grand jury sitting here.

Chief U.S. District Judge Aubrey E. Robinson Jr., who arbitrates controversial matters concerning federal grand juries, said further action on Snyder's information will be decided by that body.

The 1984 report estimated the number of homeless people to be 350,000, rather than the 2 million to 3 million estimated by Snyder and other advocates for the homeless.

Snyder asked for a grand jury investigation of possible criminal wrongdoing by Housing and Urban Development officials, without the help of the U.S. attorney's office, which usually presents evidence to grand juries. A preliminary investigation by the U.S. attorney's office last year found that there was no basis to believe that HUD officials violated any law.

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