A sample of 126 "housing risk" clients were identified for interview from agency emergency service cases. Records provided some history on the persistance of client need and were supplemented by in-person interviews with clients and ancillary informants. Ninety-one clients were located and their situations were compared with those of 30 randomly selected SRO residents. Comparison of these samples show that particular vulnerbailiy to homelessness exists among those whose resources are impaired.