Why Schools May Hold the Earliest Clues to Homelessness

When we think of homelessness, we often picture adults living on the streets or in shelters. But one of the most powerful early-warning systems for youth homelessness is inside our schools.

The Hidden Crisis Inside Classrooms

According to SchoolHouse Connections, a national non-profit organization that aims to overcome homelessness through early care and education, U.S. public schools identified 1,374,537 students experiencing homelessness in the 2022–2023 school year. That’s about 2.8% of all public school students.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, since the mid-2000s, the number of students identified as homeless has more than doubled. In fact, over the past 18 years, the rate of identified student homelessness has increased by about 5% per year, on average

Each “number” is a young person whose lack of stable housing is affecting nearly every aspect of their life, including school.

Why Schools Are a Crucial Early Detection Point

Frequent Touchpoints

Kids spend a huge part of their day at school, so school staff are often among the first to notice signs of housing instability. These signs include frequent absences, sudden school changes, poor hygiene, or a student arriving at school inappropriately dressed for the weather.

Chronic Absence

Homelessness is strongly linked to chronic absenteeism. According to youth.gov, without a stable place to sleep, students may miss school more often, or arrive late, both of which can negatively affect their academic performance and connection to school. Two-thirds of previously homeless youth who were surveyed as part of a study claimed that “homelessness had a significant impact on their education, making it hard to stay and do well.”

SchoolHouse Connection reports that nearly half of students experiencing homelessness were chronically absent in 2022–2023, a rate 12 percentage points higher than other low-income students.

Liaison & Legal Protections

Under the McKinney-Vento Act, every school district must have a homeless education liaison. This person helps identify students who lack stable housing. Homeless education liaisons assist with enrollment and link these students to community supports.

Academic and Emotional Impact

According to SchoolHouse Connection, students experiencing homelessness often face unique educational barriers, including frequent school transfers, lack of transportation, and not having a fixed address. These disruptions can lead to lower grades and less school connectedness. It also correlates with higher rates of bullying or mental health challenges.

Disproportionate Risk

Certain subgroups are overrepresented among homeless students. For example, students with disabilities and English language learners make up a larger share of the homeless student population than in the general student body, according to National Center for Homeless Education.

Why This Matters

November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about this often unseen crisis. Advocates, let’s push for better policies and resources to help young people who lack stable housing.

ECO works to partner with community agencies to provide wraparound support, including housing referrals, health services, mental health support. It’s our goal to connect anyone facing housing insecurity to the proper services and resources. We also aim to continue to raise awareness and support organizations that offer shelter, mental health support, and education stability to at-risk youth.

Essex County Resources

Here are several Essex County resources we’d like to highlight, each offering support and services for at-risk youth who are experiencing homelessness or are in danger of becoming homeless.

We commend these organizations for the vital, often life-changing work they do every day. Their commitment to supporting vulnerable youth strengthens the safety net across our communities, and we are grateful for every opportunity to collaborate, share resources, and work together to ensure young people have the stability, support, and hope they deserve.