They may be anxious, depressed, aggressive, dependent, and demanding. Homeless children also suffer from physical disorders, and developmental delays, including motor and language skills. For school-age homeless children, school attendance and performance is often sporadic, caused by frequent moves and changing schools. Shelters and Other Support Services Urgent needs typically include emergency food assistance and clothing, more so than for non-homeless poor families. There are 27 case management agencies in the county which specifically serve homeless families in need of general assistance.
Immediate assistance includes food, clothing, and shelter.
Thirty-four percent of San Diego County's shelter bed inventory is set aside for homeless families. This totals 1,238 permanent shelter spaces for families. Almost all of these are transitional shelter beds, allowing families longer stays as they attempt to gain financial and emotional stability. Some extend to 24 months. Less than 100 beds provide permanent supportive housing spaces, with no time limits, and less than 200 are short-term, emergency shelter beds.