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homelessness. Residents can stay in transitional housing for up 6 to 24 months. Currently, there are eighty -two transitional housing program that offer housing to singles, families, victims of domestic violence and veterans. Job Training /Employment In order to exit homelessness and stabilize their lives, homeless people must have access to income. Although many homeless people suffer from chronic disabilities and are unable to work and require some form of income support, most homeless people are interested in working and indicate that they would like to work. Locally, and nationally, about 20% of homeless people are working but are unable to obtain housing. (See [lousing Needs Analysis for more detail.) Finding a job today with the changing job market is not easy for low income people who have housing. For homeless people with few skills it is even harder. Homeless people encounter multiple barriers to getting and retaining employment that most job seekers do not share including the need for both interim and permanent housing, food, child care, transportation, access to telephone and message services, clothing appropriate for employment, health care, substance abuse and mental health treatment, job training and financial planning and assistance. Childcare is the greatest barrier to employment for homeless families, particularly for single women with children. Mainstream job training and job placement programs often lack resources or the experience with the homeless population to meet the multiple needs that homeless trainees and job seekers present. Programs such as CalWorks, which focus on quick results, rather than long term employment goals, are less well equipped to serve homeless people. However, CalWorks funds some training programs which accept homeless people. More frequently, homeless people seek training and placement assistance through programs targeted to their multiple needs. Several homeless programs in the County focus on the needs of homeless people seeking job training and linking them to support services. Also see the Welfare -to -Work in the previous section. Childcare /Education Resources for childcare for low income families are scarce. The lack of childcare is one of the primary factors preventing homeless and low income women on SSI and CalWorks recipients have a very high need for infant childcare and school aged childcare, particularly for children in emergency and transitional housing programs. For school -aged children, homelessness creates difficulties in attending school. Homeless children move frequently and are often forced to change schools. If homeless families do not have access to their children's records, including immunization records, they may be denied access to school. Once in school, homeless children have a hard time keeping up, due to the stress in their lives as well as the lack of a place in which to do homework. Strategic Plan FY2010 FY2014 City of Pleasanton Page 26