In a place like Southern California, homelessness can become a mind-trap. 

There are A LOT of free-wheeling, indolent people doing it with you, many of them (at first) quite friendly and willing to share a joint or a beer. The beach is right there plus some church is generally nearby giving away food and water. The conviction to get up and do for yourself can be quickly swept away--for weeks. 

One day (in perhaps week 2 or 3), you wake from yet another nap on the beach after sharing a blunt, to discover that you've been rolled (by one of those "friendly" people). Wallet, with all of your ID (and $$), is gone and no one saw or knows anything. You react but there is no getting your money or any of your lost ID back...and if one of those was your SS-card, you won't be able to get a job. The DOWN-side of homelessness begins to manifest.

Is time for you to "get into the system" to access any kind of benefit the county largesse of multiple BILLIONS of tax-dollars makes possible. Maybe you'll get a couple pairs of sox, a new beanie, or even a "care package" containing a few cans of vienna sausages and a $20 voucher to use at the local Goodwill. But first you need to do intake and get a card, so OTHER people can get paid off of your plight. :)