More Than 1 in 4 Homeless Students Dropped Off Schools’ Radar During the Pandemic
A new report by SchoolHouse Connection and Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan shows a 28 percent drop in the number of homeless students identified in Fall 2020 compared to Fall 2019. Nearly 70 percent of 1,500 homeless liaisons in 49 states have reported that pandemic-related issues such as school closures and families being forced out of homeless shelters due to capacity restrictions have led to problems in identifying homeless students. The study also showed that 64 percent of homeless students lack stable internet, 64 percent do not have shelter or emergency housing, 47 percent needed food, 37 percent needed childcare and 21.5 percent needed health care. The study also indicated that a large share of homeless students do not live in shelters but are instead doubled up with other families or stranded in cars, motels, or other precarious living situations.