This study examined the lifestyle of children from a sedentary grouping of 20 homeless families living under a viaduct in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The study particularly focused on issues related to this lifestyle, including dimensions of housing and cultural variations in housing related to child development and child rearing. The lifestyle of the children described in this study differs from that of children of the street because they have families and temporary houses, and differs from squatters because the families may have to move from one urban space to another. The developmental context of these homeless children was found to include mother-child attachment and other multiple and simultaneous relationships; strong influence of peer relationships; autonomy perceived as dangerous by mothers even though children are "on the street"; collective personal space or a sense of self that incorporates other people; polychronic time; lack of sanitary care increasing illness and morbidity; and delayed or absent schooling. (JPB)