There are about 6,000 homeless children aged zero to five in Ventura County, children living doubled up in temporary living situations, transitional housing, shelters, uninhabitable places, and on the street.

Generally, by age five, these children are:

• About 10,000 words behind housed children
• Emotionally stressed, 20% having a diagnosable mental illness
• Developmentally delayed and/or unready for kindergarten

They are at risk for:

• Acute illnesses and mental health difficulties
• Attachment and relationship problems
• School problems in learning and behaviors

These factors lead to high risk for:

• Drug and alcohol problems and/or abuse
• Dropping out of school and/or legal problems
• Homelessness as adults
• Difficulty with parenting
• Unsafe, unstable relationships