Press Room
SchoolHouse Connection is a national organization promoting success for children and youth experiencing homelessness, from birth through higher education. We engage in strategic advocacy and provide technical assistance in partnership with early care and education professionals (including school district homeless liaisons and state homeless education coordinators), young people, service providers, advocates, and local communities.
For answers to common questions on child, youth, and family homelessness, click here.
Media Contact
Barbara Duffield
Executive Director
202.364.7392
barbara@schoolhouseconnection.org
SchoolHouse Connection in the News
Homeless students in L.A. charter schools struggle more than peers at traditional schools, study finds
EdSource – February 24, 2021
Homeless Students Lack Basic Needs, Support During COVID-19 Pandemic
TeenVogue – February 19, 2021
Ensuring Homeless Students Are Seen During a Pandemic
Education Week – February 17, 2021
‘Where Are These Poor Kids Going?’: The Mission To Find Homeless Students During COVID-19
WNIJ/WNIU – February 3, 2021
California schools report fewer homeless students, alarming advocates
EdSource – January 27, 2021
Schools Are a Lifeline for Homeless Students. COVID-19 Is Severing the Connection.
EdSurge – January 11, 2021
Inside the Effort to Find and Help Disengaged Youth
Education Week – January 6, 2021
2020 News Coverage
Coronavirus school closures force low-income, homeless students off grid
Fox News – December 19, 2020
Homeless and doubled up, families living with other households may fall into aid blind spot
NBC News – December 18, 2020
After-school Providers Can Assist Kids Experiencing Homelessness
Youth Today – December 16, 2020
COVID Having Devastating Impact on Children
WBAP News Talk – December 16, 2020
Covid is having a devastating impact on children — and the vaccine won’t fix everything
NBC News – December 15, 2020
Homeless youth left behind during pandemic
Kobi5 – December 7, 2020
The Education Crisis Facing Homeless Students
OnPoint Radio / WBUR – November 30, 2020
More Than 1 in 4 Homeless Students Dropped Off Schools’ Radar During the Pandemic
Education Week – November 25, 2020
Report: 420K fewer homeless students identified at start of school year
Education Dive – November 24, 2020
Across the U.S., fewer students are being identified as homeless. Educators say that’s actually a bad sign.
Chalkbeat – November 23, 2020
A wave of evictions is on the horizon. What impact could they have on kids’ education?
CBS 60 Minutes Overtime – November 22, 2020
Montana Nonprofit Helps School District Graduate High Percentage Of Homeless Students
Youth Today – November 10, 2020
NRPM Partner Spotlight – SchoolHouse Connection
NRPM – November 5, 2020
Housing & Shelter Alone Can’t Break The Cycle Of Youth Homelessness – Education Can
Giving Compass – October 26, 2020
Homeless students face extra obstacles amid COVID-19
The Detroit News – October 21, 2020
Nearly 270,000 K-12 Students in California Were Homeless Last Year, UCLA Study Says
NBC Los Angeles – October 20, 2020
New Orleans’ homeless numbers will rise, advocates warn; public schools plea for funding to help
Nola.com – October 17, 2020
‘Right Now, All Students are Mobile’: New Pandemic Data Confirms a ‘Massive Event’ Disrupting School Enrollment
74 Million – October 14, 2020
What Homeless Students Have to Deal With to Go to School During COVID
VICE – October 14, 2020
Poverty Solutions Receives Grant to Develop Homelessness Data-to-Action Playbook
Poverty Solutions, University of Michigan – October 14, 2020
Barriers to Financial Aid for Homeless Youth Now Compounded by COVID-19, New Report Warns
NASFAA – October 13, 2020
An Impossible Choice For Homeless Parents: A Job, Or Their Child’s Education
NPR – October 7, 2020
Student Homelessness Prevented on Washington College Campuses As New School Year Commences
The Imprint – September 20, 2020
Remote Learning Presents Additional Challenge For Students Experiencing Homelessness
NPR – September 20, 2020
The Children in the Shadows: New York City’s Homeless Students
The New York Times Magazine – September 9, 2020
OPINION: There is no recovery from COVID-19 if we leave millions of children and families behind
Thomson Reuters Foundation News – August 19, 2020
Formerly Homeless Youth Urge Congress to Act During Pandemic
Youth Today – July 23, 2020
Heroes Of The Homeless Crisis: How Barbara Duffield & SchoolHouse Connection Are Helping People To Overcome Homelessness Through Education
Authority Magazine – June 14, 2020
Schools would get $1 billion to help homeless students under bipartisan federal proposal
EdSource – May 26, 2020
‘I’m on edge all day long.’ Schoolwork a mere afterthought for homeless youth
The Hechinger Report, The Seattle Times – May 24, 2020
Homeless Shelter Youth Face the Street During Pandemic
The City – May 17, 2020
She’s racing to help homeless kids — but can’t reach them during pandemic
Detroit Free Press – May 16, 2020
Students Who Are Homeless Need Us Now More Than Ever. And It Starts at the Top.
Education Post – May 12, 2020
Housing instability is expected to rise. Schools are already on the front lines.
Chalkbeat – May 7, 2020
5 Ways to Best Support Homeless Students During COVID-19
YouthToday – May 5, 2020
California’s homeless students at risk of falling through the cracks during pandemic
EdSource – May 4, 2020
‘Schools are survival’: U.S. coronavirus closures put homeless students at risk
Thomson Reuters – April 20, 2020
Coronavirus Eviction Rules Don’t Always Help People in Motels
Stateline – April 15, 2020
The Realities of Life for Homeless Students Must Be Part of Remote Learning Strategies During Coronavirus Shutdowns
The 74 Million – April 14, 2020
The Coronavirus Class Divide: Space and Privacy
The New York Times – April 12, 2020
Where Are They? Students Go Missing in Shift to Remote Classes
Education Week – April 10, 2020
What The Latest Federal Research On Homeless Student Means
School Transportation News – April 1, 2020
Reaching ‘Our Most Invisible Population’ During a Pandemic: How Schools Are Scrambling to Protect Homeless Students as Coronavirus Shatters Safety Nets
The 74 Million – March 24, 2020
Is Youth Homelessness Going Up or Down? It Depends on Whom You Ask
The New York Times – March 17, 2020
Number Of Homeless, Unaccompanied Youth In Mass. Soars, Even As Many Go Uncounted
WGBH – March 2, 2020
‘They have no place to go’: Ventura County sees number of homeless students double
VC Star – February 24, 2020
News coverage around the San Antonio Charter School Convenings:
February 20, 2020
- Noticias 41: edición nocturna
- Noticias 60 Telemundo
- Fox News First (3 hits here: 6:38AM, 7:35AM, and 8:34AM)
- News 4 Today
- Fox News First Early Edition
- Edición Digital San Antonio
Youth homelessness crisis addressed at Education Service Center event
KSAT – February 20, 2020
San Antonio education leaders, advocates convene to address youth homelessness
San Antonio Express-News – February 20, 2020
School Districts, Charters Convene to Combat Youth Homelessness
The Rivard Report – February 20, 2020
‘They’re Invisible’: Number of Homeless Students Reaches New High
neaToday – February 12, 2020
A place to call home
WORLD Digital – February 12, 2020
Number of Homeless Students Hits All-Time High
Education Week – February 10, 2020
Small Steps That Add Up – King County takes cue from Australian strategy for preventing homelessness and dropping out
The Seattle Times – February 9, 2020
Student Homelessness is at an All-Time High
WNYC (podcast) – February 6, 2020
The number of homeless students has doubled in just over a decade
Mic – February 5, 2020
Number of homeless US students hits 12-year high, report says
The Denver Channel – February 4, 2020
The Number of Homeless Students Now Matches the Entire Population of New Hampshire
Vice – February 4, 2020
There are more homeless students in the U.S. than people living in Dallas
CBS – February 4, 2020
As the economy soars, so does the number of homeless students in public schools. Why?
The Olympian – February 3, 2020
There are more students experiencing homelessness than ever before
New York Post – February 3, 2020
More students are experiencing homelessness than ever before
The Hill – February 3, 2020
‘They’re invisible’: A record number of students are experiencing homelessness, new federal data say
MarketWatch – February 3, 2020
Number of Homeless Students Rises to New High, Report Says
The New York Times – February 3, 2020
More and more students are experiencing homelessness, according to new federal data
CNN – February 2, 2020
More Students Are Homeless Than Ever Before
US News & World Report – January 30, 2020
Federal data shows student homelessness at all-time high
Education Dive – January 30, 2020
Federal data shows a record number of homeless students
PoliticoPro – January 29, 2020
(This article is for PoliticoPro subscribers only. The PDF version is available.)
As the number of homeless kids in Chicago grows, CPS does more to help
Chicago Sun-Times – January 28, 2020
2019 News Coverage
How to help homeless students around the holidays and beyond
CNN.com – December 22, 2019
San Ysidro School District Kicked Out a Homeless Student Over a Paperwork Problem
The Sacramento Bee – December 10, 2019
Schools fail to identify thousands of homeless children, state audit finds
EdSource – November 27, 2019
3 kids. 2 paychecks. No home.
The California Sunday Magazine – November 24, 2019
Redefining Homelessness Could Help Families on the Edge, Advocates Say
The Pew Charitable Trusts – November 22, 2019
National advocate of family homelessness: ‘We are literally creating chronic homelessness’
Vermont Business Magazine – October 31, 2019
Affordable housing among striking Chicago teachers’ demands
Associated Press – October 21, 2019
Homeless Youth: Risk Factors of the Vulnerable [Podcast]
Our American States | An NCSL Podcast – September 26, 2019
Federal rules were stopping organizations from helping some homeless students — so Washington state found a way around the rules
The Seattle Times – September 23, 2019
Why districts spend millions to keep homeless students in place: ‘Changing schools is the last thing we want’
The Seattle Times – September 1, 2019
For Kids Experiencing Homelessness, Back-To-School Can Mark A Return To Stability
DCist – August 29, 2019
‘A National Challenge’: How We Can Change the Course for Homeless Students
Education Week – August 27, 2019
The growing crisis of homeless kids
APM Reports – August 15, 2019
Should US Public Schools Eliminate Homework?
TruthOut – August 4, 2019
The 6 types of students most confounded by the FAFSA
PoliticoPro – July 22, 2019
(This article is for PoliticoPro subscribers only. The PDF version is available.)
Grad Nation: US won’t meet 90% graduation goal by 2020
Education Dive – June 11, 2019
Homeless Students’ Struggles Come Into Sharper Focus Under ESSA
Education Week – June 11, 2019
Schools struggle to address rising student homelessness
Marketplace – May 7, 2019
The Fight Over What It Means To Be Homeless — And How That Could Affect Illinois
NPR Illinois 91.9 – April 27, 2019
Family-school ties at center of Tacoma homelessness prevention program
Education Dive – April 2, 2019
Homelessness Advocates Tell of New Successes Via State Legislation
YouthToday – March 20, 2019
PD key in supporting homeless K-12 students
District Administration – March 14, 2019
Schools Finding Record Numbers of Homeless Students, Study Says
Education Week – March 12, 2019
We’ve Never Found So Many Homeless Students Before. That’s Bad and Good
Education Week – March 1, 2019
An Illinois Law Aims To Help Homeless Students — Is It Enough?
Illinois News Room – February 28, 2019
1.3 Million Homeless Students: New Federal Data Show a 70 Percent Jump in K-12 Homelessness Over Past Decade, With Big Implications for Academic Performance
The 74 Million – February 19, 2019
2018 News Coverage
Meet Lily, the first homeless Muppet on ‘Sesame Street’
The Washington Post – December 12, 2018
Meet Lily, the first homeless ‘Sesame Street’ character
MarketWatch – December 12, 2018
When Days Aren’t So Sunny: Sesame Street Takes on Homelessness
The New York Times – December 12, 2018
Meet ‘Sesame Street’s’ newest muppet
WTNH – December 12, 2018
Technology Access Gap Leaves Millions of Students Struggling to Keep Up
Truthout – October 17, 2018
Mother fights to keep kids in Henry County schools
AJC – October 2, 2018
Technology Access Gap Leaves Millions of Students Struggling to Keep Up
Truthout – October 17, 2018
Bipartisan bill would help homeless children and youth
The Hill – July 24, 2018
A Family Dispute: Who Counts As Homeless?
City Lab – July 19, 2018
Young and Homeless
Mountain View Voice – July 13, 2018
In an Era When Hurricanes and Wildfires Are Common, Homelessness Is an ‘Ongoing Disaster’ for Students Across the U.S.
The 74 Million – April 9, 2018
A Lesson in Poverty: School Children in Michigan Struggle with Homelessness at High Rates
Poverty Solutions, University of Michigan – April 5, 2018
Opinion: 1.3 million students are homeless. Here’s how we can help them
PBS News Hour – March 6, 2018
SXSW EDU Tackling the Issues of Homelessness Nationwide
KVUE – March 5, 2018
Day one at SXSWedu 2018: Educators share their stories, talk innovative school design
Education Dive – March 5, 2018
A New Focus on College Campuses: Ending Housing Insecurity
U.S. News – February 27, 2018
Early childcare professionals, teachers trained to recognize trauma of childhood homelessness
The Cap Times – February 23, 2018
For Homeless High Schoolers in Rural Kentucky, Escape Route Is Elusive
Rewire News – February 19, 2018
For Homeless Youth, Statistics and Reality Are Miles Apart
TalkPoverty – January 24, 2018
Young, gay and living on the street: LGBT youth face increased odds of homelessness
EdSource – January 1, 2018
2017 News Coverage
In Boston, fight to end homelessness moves from street corner to classroom
The Christian Science Monitor – December 6, 2017
Is It Finally Time to Simplify the Fafsa? Signs Point to Yes.
The Chronicle of Higher Education – November 28, 2017
If We Want To End Homelessness We Must Prioritize Homeless Young People
Giving Compass – November 16, 2017
For county’s homeless students, start of school brings mix of benefits and challenges
Frederick News Post – September 2, 2017
Program for homeless preschoolers finds home in Ventura
USA Today – August 24, 2017
ESSA brings new focus to homeless population
Education Dive – August 21, 2017
For 1.3 Million Homeless Youths, ESSA Is a Beacon of Hope
Edweek – July 31, 2017
30 years after landmark legislation, schools still struggle to serve homeless students
Southern California Public Radio – July 21, 2017
Making Student Homelessness a Visible Issue
Prospect – July 21, 2017
Meeting the Needs of Homeless Youth: Public Schools Are Doing What Government Won’t Do Directly
Truth-out – June 28, 2017
Thousands of college students may be homeless or precariously housed, studies suggest
Washington Post – June 25, 2017
For Homeless Families in the South Bay, Schools Provide Far More Than Education
Voice of San Diego – June 20, 2017
Organizations Intensify Efforts to Help Homeless Students
Diverse Education – June 12, 2017
Trump’s proposed budget cuts worry advocates for homeless students
inewsource – April 3, 2017
Homeless College Students are on the rise, but universities are struggling to keep up
Circa News – March 12, 2017
They’re college students. They’re homeless. Their schools have no clue.
Circa.com – March 6, 2017
2016 News Coverage
While State Focuses on Adult Homelessness, Homeless Youth on the Rise
WNPR Connecticut Public Radio – December 16, 2016
Program targets Ventura’s young homeless
Ventura County Star – December 15, 2016
Homeless students in Texas at 113,000 last year, likely more now
Fort Worth Star Telegram – December 13, 2016
Press Releases / SHC Statements
Statewide End-of-Year Assessments and Students Experiencing Homelessness: Thoughtful Action Needed to Ensure Participation and Prevent Setbacks
SchoolHouse Connection recognizes the value of statewide assessments as a tool for parents, communities, schools, and systems of education to gain insights into how well students are being served, including factors that might impact achievement. We recently joined over 40 education and civil rights organizations in signing onto a statement regarding the administration of statewide assessments, and are pleased to see that ED will not consider blanket waivers of the critical civil rights component of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) that requires high quality, statewide assessments. While we acknowledge that assessment data for this school year will have an asterisk next to it in the history books, this information is still critical to help us understand what our systems of education need in order to serve all students well.
SchoolHouse Connection Calls on Congress to Prioritize Urgent Support for Children, Youth, and Families Experiencing Homelessness in Federal COVID-19 Relief Stimulus
SchoolHouse Connection Calls on Congress to Prioritize Urgent Support for Children, Youth, and Families Experiencing Homelessness in Federal COVID-19 Relief Stimulus. To date, Congress has not targeted COVID-19 relief funding to the needs of children, youth, and families who are homeless, despite great vulnerability.
SchoolHouse Connection Strongly Condemns Attempted Insurrection
SchoolHouse Connection strongly condemns yesterday’s violent insurrection and the white supremacy that underlies it. We are deeply concerned about the health of our democracy and the added layers of trauma for children and youth witnessing these events – especially children and youth of color, who are disproportionately suffering from the toll of the pandemic and economic crisis – many of whom are also missing the safety and stability of their schools during distance learning. The fate of our most marginalized children and youth is the fate of this nation.
Overcoming Homelessness Through Education Means Fighting Racism
We are sickened, saddened, and angered by the virulent racism in our nation. While this racism has been unveiled in horrific ways in recent days, we know it underlies profound historic and current inequities in education, early care, homelessness, and all aspects of...
[Press Release] Public Schools Report Record High of Over 1.5 Million Homeless Children and Youth
For Immediate Release Contact: Barbara Duffield Email: barbara@schoolhouseconnection.org Phone: (202) 549-7668 January 29, 2020 Public Schools Report Record High of Over 1.5 Million Homeless Children and Youth SchoolHouse Connection and Civic call for urgent action to...
Advocates Applaud Passage of Bipartisan Bill to Help Most Vulnerable Homeless Children and Youth: Inclusion can remove barriers to federal homeless assistance
Washington, D.C., July 24, 2018—First Focus Campaign for Children, Schoolhouse Connection, National Network for Youth and Family Promise celebrate today’s bipartisan passage of the Homeless Children and Youth Act (H.R. 1511) in the House Financial Services Committee....
Advocates Set New Goal to Graduate 90 Percent of Homeless Students by 2030, Enroll 60 Percent in College by 2034
Education Leads Home, a new campaign led by four nonprofit partners, was announced at SXSW EDU today. Ten students who have experienced homelessness to receive college scholarships AUSTIN, TX – Today, SchoolHouse Connection, the Institute for Children, Poverty and...
Bipartisan Legislation for Education and Employment Introduced
On Friday, November 3, Reps. Jim Renacci (R-OH), Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Steve Stivers (R-OH), and Seth Moulton (D-MA) introduced the "Preparing Homeless Youth for Education and Employment Act," bipartisan legislation to provide access to dropout prevention and college...
New Bills Introduced in Congress Aim for Higher Education Success for Youth in Foster Care System, Experiencing Homelessness
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: New Bills Introduced in Congress Aim for Higher Education Success for Youth in Foster Care System, Experiencing Homelessness Legislation is heralded by national advocacy organizations Juvenile Law Center, SchoolHouse Connection and National...
Advocates Applaud Bipartisan Legislation to Address Child and Youth Homelessness
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: WASHINGTON, D.C. (MARCH 14, 2017) – The Homeless Children and Youth Act today was reintroduced in Congress, signaling a commitment by policymakers to prioritize the well-being of more than 1.2 million homeless children and youth in the United...