Research

A Round Up of Recent Research on Child and Youth Homelessness (January-July 2021)

Did you know?

  • Pre-pandemic, an estimated 5% of children under age six in the United States experienced homelessness.
  • Sixteen percent of infants and toddlers in the U.S. live in crowded housing, which is associated with higher risk of COVID infection and is known to jeopardize development.
  • Across 24 states, approximately 9.17% of all public high school students experienced homelessness. But at least two-thirds of students who experienced homelessness were not identified as homeless by their schools.
  • Research on California students shows that homelessness is negatively associated with student learning outcomes, regardless of living arrangements.
  • Michigan students who were currently housed, but had experienced homelessness at any point in the last eight years, were disciplined at rates even higher than their currently homeless peers, showing the long-lasting impacts of experiences of homelessness.
  • In Chicago, Black K-12 students have a one in four chance of experiencing homelessness at some point during their academic tenure.
  • Youth who access transitional housing, particularly for longer periods, experience positive outcomes related to housing, employment, education, and access to services.

Over the past few months, many new reports on children and youth homelessness, education, and related issues have been released. We highlight key findings from thirteen new reports below. 

Early Childhood

Early Childhood Homelessness State Profiles, published by the U.S. Department of Education, June 2021. This report compiles state-by-state and national data from multiple sources from the 2018–19 school year to provide information on the extent of early childhood homelessness and the availability of federally-funded early childhood education for young children experiencing homelessness across the United States.

Key Findings:

State of Babies 2021, published by Zero to Three, April 2021. This report analyzes national and state-by-state data on the well-being of infants and toddlers.

Key Findings:

K-12 Homelessness

High School Students Experiencing Homelessness: Findings from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS). This report, published by Nemours Children’s Health System in June 2021, provides estimated 30-day prevalence rates of homelessness and associated characteristics among public high school students in 24 states and 12 school districts in the United States utilizing data from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS).

Key Findings:

Students Experiencing Homelessness: The Conditions and Outcomes of Homelessness Among California Students. This report, published by Learning Policy Institute in June 2021, describes the population of students experiencing homelessness in California in 2018–19 and then identifies several school- and student-level factors associated with differences in academic achievement for these students, including living arrangements, school mobility, and school discipline. The report suggests that comprehensive practice and policy strategies be implemented across multiple levels of governance to improve educational outcomes.

Key Findings:

Recognizing Trauma: Why School Discipline Reform Needs to Consider Student Homelessness. This report, published in May 2021 by Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan, uses data from the Michigan Department of Education to explore suspension and expulsion rates among students who have experienced homelessness compared to their housed peers. The analysis finds both currently and formerly homeless students face much higher rates of disciplinary action. Policy recommendations are provided.

Key Findings:

Known, Valued, Inspired: New Evidence on Student Homelessness. This report, by The University of Chicago Inclusive Economy Lab in conjunction with Chicago Public Schools (CPS), examines the multiple and interconnected dimensions of student homelessness in Chicago, and outlines a series of strategies to help students stay engaged in school and succeed.

Key Findings:

Student Homelessness In Camden City School District: Mobility and Frequency 2014-15 through 2018-19. This brief, published in a collaboration between the Camden City School District (CCSD), Nemours Children’s Health System, and the Camden Coalition, uses integrated data to examine student homelessness in the city of Camden and lays out recommendations for school districts.

Key Findings:

Higher Education

#RealCollege 2021: Basic Needs Insecurity During the Ongoing Pandemic. This report, published in March 2021 by the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice, analyzed findings from the Hope Center’s annual #RealCollege Survey of nearly 200,000 college students at over 200 colleges and universities in 42 states.

Key Findings:

First Look at the Impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic on Undergraduate Student Enrollment, Housing, and Finances (Preliminary Data). This report, published by the National Center for Education Statistics in June 2021, documents the impact of the pandemic on student enrollment and financial stability across demographic categories and institution types.

Key Findings:

A First Look at Impacts of the College Housing Assistance Program at Tacoma Community College. This report, published in June 2021 by the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice, offers the initial lessons learned from the first external evaluation of The College Housing Assistance Program (CHAP), operated by the Tacoma Housing Authority (THA) and Tacoma Community College (TCC). The evaluation focused on how students experienced the program, where they faced barriers, and where they found support. 

Key Findings:

The Overlooked Obstacle – How Satisfactory Academic Progress Policies Impede Student Success and Equity. This report, published by John Burton Advocates for Youth in July 2021, explores the impact of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards and policies on financial aid receipt and enrollment of first-year Pell Grant recipients attending a California Community College. It also offers federal, state, and institutional-level recommendations to increase equity and remove barriers to student success. 

Key Findings:

Youth Homelessness

Youth-Supportive Transitional Housing Programs As An Essential Resource for Addressing Youth Homelessness. This paper, published in June 2021 by Covenant House International, National Network for Youth, and SchoolHouse Connection, shares research demonstrating the effectiveness of transitional housing programs and argues for greater investments and wider availability of this essential housing model. 

Key Findings:

Untold Stories: Young Adult & Racial Dimensions of COVID-19. This report, published in June 2021 by Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago and Howard University, analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey, which collected information during the pandemic. 

Key Findings: