Some formerly homeless children in Phoenix are having a tough time adapting to their new homes.

Keon Montgomery, deputy director with Phoenix’s Housing Department, told a city subcommittee that some of the kids’ behaviors could cause their families to be evicted from one of the city’s newest apartment complexes for low-income households.

“Some of the negative activities that they’ve engaged — that they’re starting to engage in are actually acts of vandalism, as well as bullying other children and drug use," he said.

He said there are caseworkers providing services to parents and there is a need for services for children at the property.

Last month the Phoenix City Council approved $125,000 from Community Development Block Grant funding to provide on-site counseling services for children experiencing difficulty adjusting to permanent housing.

The council also added $91,000 in Emergency Solutions Grant funds for more family emergency shelter services at United Methodist Outreach Ministries (UMOM) New Day Center.

UMOM CEO Darlene Newsom told the housing subcommittee, “We have over 100 families on a wait list for emergency shelter. That means fifty families are living directly on the streets.”

Last fall Phoenix launched PHX C.A.R.E.S., an initiative to offer services to people living on the streets by sending outreach teams to respond to reports provided by the public.

The program’s website includes a variety of information for residents, business owners and others impacted by homelessness.