The present study investigated the relationship between children's adjustment and two risk indicators, witnessing interspousal violence and transitional housing. Participants were 6- to 12-year-old children and their mothers who resided in shelters for battered women or hostels for homeless families (191 children from 125 families). Group differences and predictors of adjustment were expected to reflect the risk continuum hypothesized for this study, with children exposed to interspousal violence within the past year (the shelter group) at the most extreme risk, children exposed to interspousal violence more than one year previously (the homeless violent group) at severe risk, and children in families without a history of interspousal violence (the homeless non-violent group) at moderately severe risk.