what is student
homelessness?

Homelessness looks different for our kids and families.

They may reside in their car, a garage, a motel, shelter program, couch surf with friends, or double/triple up with others in a home meant for one family. They are hidden in plain sight.

Our kids and families experience homelessness as defined by the federal McKinney Vento Act. This means “they lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.”1

Their unstable living conditions leads to our kids experiencing chronic stress, anxiety, and may lead to underperforming at school. Students experiencing homelessness are much more likely to miss school, drop out of school, fall behind academically, and ultimately perpetuate the cycle of homelessness and poverty in their family and our community.

Sources 2 3

What can I do to support kids experiencing homelessness?

Donate

Your donation provides hope and opportunity to kids experiencing homelessness every day so they can fully access their education and just be kids.

donate

Advocate

Address your school administrators and ask what they are doing to support kids and families experiencing homelessness at your school.

Talk

Talk to your own kids – our kids go to school with your kids. They learn together, play together, and experience life together, just differently. Help your kids understand better what poverty and homelessness looks like in our community.

How can I learn more about student homelessness?

Learn more about student homelessness by visiting these trusted resources:

  1. https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/hs/homelessdef.asp ↩︎
  2. https://nche.ed.gov/student-homelessness-in-america-school-years-2019-2020-to-2021-2022/ ↩︎
  3. https://www.cde.ca.gov/ds/sg/homelessyouth.asp ↩︎