Missed Opportunities: Education Among Youth Experiencing Homelessness in America

On Monday, November 4, Chapin Hall released a new report, Missed Opportunities: Education Among Youth Experiencing Homelessness in America. The report finds that not completing high school is the single greatest risk factor associated with experiencing unaccompanied homelessness as a young person.

Here are some of the key findings from the report:

1. There is a reciprocal relationship between reduced educational attainment and experiences of homelessness: reduced educational attainment increases the likelihood of homelessness, and experiences of homelessness reduce the likelihood of school completion.

2. Family issues in youths’ lives often prompt disruptions that contribute to experiences of homelessness and educational disconnection.

3. Youth experiencing homelessness are less likely to be enrolled in four-year colleges.

4. For young people experiencing homelessness, opportunities to pursue education vary significantly across communities.

5. Some youth experiencing homelessness do not receive sufficient information or resources to support their educational pursuits. 

 

Read the Report

Take Action

Chapin Hall’s research makes clear that access to quality education, from early childhood through young adulthood, is essential to help young people overcome homelessness and prevent future homelessness. Take action now:

1. Learn. Find out more about the intersection of education and homelessness from our common questions page, and from our answers to the real-life questions we receive from educators and providers.

2. Do. Find tools and resources on best practices, from early childhood through higher education, on our resources page.

3. Advocate. Take action on the top legislative issues before Congress to support the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness on our policy page.