I used to work with at risk and former homeless youth in Portland. The kids who had experienced homelessness were mostly very tough and resourceful. Most had just fucking awful home lives that made the streets a better place than where they came from. After learning to survive on the street I think they were better positioned to learn the skills of holding a job, maintaining an apartment, keeping track of their finances. They had already mastered a set of life skills and it helped them understand the game of mastering another. I don't know if that is true for homeless adults. The kids who got into the program from foster care, kids who never lived on the streets, weren't near as proficient at learning new skills or adapting to new situations.