Ability, achievement, and adjustment in homeless children.

Homeless 3-12-year-old children residing in city shelters were compared with a matched control group of 45 inner city children in terms of cognitive functioning and emotional-behavioral adjustment. School-age children in both groups did not differ significantly on most measures. Preschool homeless children exhibited slower development and more emotional-behavioral problems than did their domiciled peers, and significantly fewer were enrolled in early childhood programs. The feasibility of evaluating this population on standardized instruments is demonstrated, and implications of the study for social policy are discussed.