Thursday, August 28, 2025

Rising Homelessness Among School-Aged Children

Last year, homelessness across the U.S. surged by 18%. Affecting 771,480 people, with nearly 150,000 children under 18 experiencing homelessness on a single night. A 33% jump from 2023. Families bear the brunt, with a 39% increase among people in families with children.

As you know, driven by the lack of affordable housing. And these numbers may be understating the crisis. As many families are “doubled up” or “couch-surfing” and not captured in official counts.

Widespread Impact Across School-Aged Youth

Approximately 1 in 30 school-aged youth ages 13–17 and 1 in 10 young adults (18–25) experience homelessness each year. In total, about 4.2 million youth and young adults face homelessness annually, including 700,000 unaccompanied minors.

The Harm to Children and Families

Academic Struggles: Homelessness significantly increases the risk of low achievement, grade retention, and disciplinary issues like suspension or expulsion. 

Mental Health Toll: Children facing housing instability are significantly more likely to experience anxiety and depression. Yet less likely to receive mental health services.

Trauma Exposure: Homeless youth are highly exposed to traumatic experiences.

Local Focus

You know thousands of school-aged children in the Greater Cincinnati area experience homelessness each year. And many more are in jeopardy of experiencing homelessness. 

Typically, the profile of an average affected family: a single mother aged ~30 with two children under six. These children are typically 2 to 3 years behind academically. And only 25% graduate from high school.

Via their Project Connect initiative, Cincinnati Public Schools counted 4,326 students last school year who had experienced homelessness. 

These students are 87% more likely to drop out. Demonstrating how important housing stability is to a child’s education. Homeless children face chronic absenteeism, frequent school transfers. And lagging performance.

How We Can Help

Our pilot program focused on identifying families experiencing unsheltered homelessness, helping hundreds of local families. And our Shelter Diversion program is targeted to those who have already lost their own housing. And are doubled up running out of places to stay.

Providing families financial assistance, and robust case management.

Unfortunately, the need outweighs the capacity in the program due to lack of funding. We continue to raise the funding needed. So that we can increase the number of families and children we can prevent from experiencing homelessness. Letting these kids be kids. 

And get back to school!

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