Supporting Students That Are Experiencing Homelessness

Audrey Norden

EDU 340-604

Spring 2023

Dr. C. Uliassi
 Understanding advocacy is essential as a future educator. To be an advocate means one

who defends or maintains a cause or proposal (Merriam-Webster). School is an outlet for

students, and by being a teacher you have the opportunity, and duty to advocate for students'

needs inside and out of the school setting. Diversity is a beautiful and critical aspect of every

classroom and should be celebrated. Unfortunately, in many instances, children and families face

adversity in their home lives and discrimination that may affect their educational experience.

Underserved students and families within the school community are to be protected. As the

National Education Association states, “Diversity enriches the education experience for all

students. Protecting this experience is harder in some schools than others.”, which is why it is

essential to understand and advocate for all students in need. (NEA, 2020). The main focus of

this paper is to discuss how youth homelessness impacts the lives of hundreds of thousands of

Americans and interferes with their right to public education. Education is an outlet for students

to have new opportunities and experiences. As a future educator, students experiencing youth

homelessness must be advocated for.

As a future educator, I want to ensure that I have the resources to help support and

advocate for students who are experiencing homelessness or are living in unsafe conditions.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, the number of homeless students in public

schools has increased by 90% since 2008 (USDE, 2023). Additionally each year, an

estimated 4.2 million youth and young adults experience homelessness in the United States,

700,000 of which are unaccompanied minors (NCSL, 2023). This statistic is truly horrifying, but

after conducting extensive research, efforts are being made nationwide to change the lives of and

advocate for students experiencing homelessness. There is also a direct link between youth

homelessness and an increased number of school absences (Schoolhouse Connection).

According to the NCHE, “more than half (52%) of students experiencing homelessness in the

2021-2022 school year were chronically absent, a rate that jumped 20% following the pandemic

and is now 22 percentage points higher than other students”. According to their website, “The

high chronic absence rate among students experiencing homelessness is directly linked to the

barriers to education caused by homelessness, which include lack of documentation/being unable

to meet enrollment requirements; high mobility resulting in lack of continuity and absenteeism;

lack of transportation; lack of supplies; poor health, fatigue, and hunger; and emotional

crisis/mental health issues”. Children who experience homelessness at a young age are also at

risk when it comes to not reaching developmental milestones. Additionally, statistics show

approximately 1.1 million children had a young parent experiencing homelessness (NCSL,

2023). This statistic shows how homelessness has generational effects. Youth homelessness

impacts children and families across the nation, depriving children of a safe and secure

childhood, and interfering with their access to education. Data shows that the national average

High School graduation rate is 86% whereas the rate for students experiencing homelessness is

68% (NCSL, 2023). These statistics show that children experiencing homelessness are at a

severe risk of falling behind compared to students who aren’t facing the same adversity they are.

All of the statistics shown represent a clear inequity of not only the quality of life but also the

quality of education.

I specifically believe that this issue should be solved by instituting more federally funded

long-term housing institutions and easier access to public education and pre-k programs

(Coalition for the Homeless). Schoolhouse Connection is a nonprofit organization that actively

works to combat homelessness with education. According to their website

 “only 10% of children experiencing homelessness are enrolled in and identified by a

Head Start, Early Head Start, or McKinney-Vento funded preschool program. Several

federal laws, including the McKinney-Vento Act, the Head Start Act, and the Child Care

and Development Block Grant, address these barriers with requirements for

identification, outreach, enrollment, and coordinated support.”

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Youth Homelessness Demonstration

Program (YHDP) shows promise in helping youth experiencing homelessness in years to come.

A few of the ideas include identifying youth experiencing homelessness across housing and

education systems, targeting youth identified as experiencing homelessness by schools for

housing and services interventions, supporting youth’s educational goals through credit recovery,

dropout prevention, college preparation and readiness, and higher education transition and

degree completion assistance (USICH, 2018).

In 1987 the State of New York enacted the McKinney-Vento Act which promised the

following rights to education for students living with homelessness…

“Children and Youth who are experiencing homelessness have the following rights

guaranteed under the McKinney-Vento Act:

The right to go to school, no matter where they live or how long they have lived there.

The right to choose between the local school close to where they are currently living and

their school of origin, which is the school they attended before losing their housing, or

the school where they were last enrolled. The right to be immediately enrolled and to

participate in school without providing any documents, such as proof of residency,

immunizations, school records, or other documents normally needed for enrollment. The

right to transportation to and from the school where they were last permanently housed or
 last attended. The right to receive free meals at school, without filling out an application

The right to access the same special programs and services, if needed, as those offered to

other students who are eligible to receive them (NYSED. 2019. pg. 4).”

With this act existing, and still being amended over the years, public school students in New

York State should be protected and given the resources listed in a public school setting.

On a classroom level and school level there are possibilities of what can be done to solve

or support students living with homelessness. In Syracuse, NY there is an organization called

Rise Above Poverty that focuses mainly on providing educational resources, life essentials, and

mentorship to the students of the Syracuse City School District. This past semester I saw how the

organization impacted students in the classroom, providing students in the classroom I was

observing in with care packages that contained meals, groceries, toiletries, as well as socks,

underwear, and winter clothes. According to the organization's website, “The Syracuse City

School District is NO. 1 for the number of homeless students in New York State outside of New

York City. One in 10 Syracuse City School District students are homeless, and nearly half (44%)

of Syracuse children are living in poverty”. Another local resource that assisted the students

living with homelessness in my placement classroom was temporary housing provided to them

by The Salvation Army. Rise Above Poverty also works with the Syracuse City School District

to hold advocacy and engagement events as well as fundraisers to help support students in the

community. Educators should also take time to get to know each of their students, understand

what they are going through and what they need, work with students to plan out curriculum

supports if needed, and provide them with emotional support and empathy. Organizations such as

this allow teachers to assist their students in a way that they would not be able to on their own. If

more school districts could form partnerships with local organizations like Rise Above Poverty,
students who are experiencing homelessness can be given the basic resources they need, and

have not only support from the organization but advocacy and support from their teachers.

Advocacy is an essential part of being an educator. To be an advocate as a teacher is to

defend and uplift students who are experiencing adverse situations, and provide them with

support. Youth homelessness can be connected to issues of racial and social injustice in our

society. Statistically Black or African American youth are 83% more likely to experience

homelessness than white youth and additionally, Hispanic youth are 33% more likely to

experience youth homelessness than white youth as well (Covenant House, 2024). When viewing

these statistics it is clear that there are racial injustices in our society that put minority youth at an

increased risk of living without a home, and not receiving adequate resources. By advocating for

students who are affected by homelessness and breaking down the racial and social injustice

barriers that occur on a systematic level, there is the potential to change the lives of students

experiencing homelessness and take steps toward eliminating youth homelessness as a whole.
 Works Cited

Mirriam-Webster. (n.d.). Advocate definition & meaning. Merriam-Webster.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/advocate#h2

NCSL. (2023). Report youth homelessness overview. National Conference of State Legislatures.
https://www.ncsl.org/human-services/youth-homelessness-overview

NEA, N. E. A. (2020, July). Advocating for all students’ rights.

https://www.nea.org/professional-excellence/student-engagement/tools-tips/advocating-al
l-students-rights

NYSED-guidance-education-for-homeless-children-and- ... (2019).

https://www.nysed.gov/sites/default/files/nysed-guidance-education-for-homeless-childre
n-and-youths-program-final.pdf

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. (2018, May 3). Strengthening partnerships
between education and Homelessness Services.
https://www.usich.gov/news-events/news/strengthening-partnerships-between-education-
and-homelessness-services

USDE. (2023, June 1). Identifying and supporting students experiencing homelessness from
pre-school to post-secondary ages: U.S. Department of Education. Home.
https://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/supporting-homeless-students/index.html

Our mission. Rise Above Poverty Syracuse. (n.d.). https://www.riseabovepovertysyr.org/mission

Young people of color are more likely to face homelessness. Covenant House. (n.d.).
https://www.covenanthouse.org/homeless-issues/people-of-color#:~:text=Black%20or%2
0African%20American%20youth,the%20U.S.%20than%20white%20youth.&text=Hispa
nic%20youth%20are%2033%25%20more,the%20U.S.%20than%20white%20youth.