1 in 6 homeless Americans is a child.
On any given night in 2022, nearly 100,000 children 1 were experiencing homelessness, with millions more at risk of becoming homeless. In New York City, there are more than 20,000 children 2 experiencing homelessness, and 1 in 5 homeless New Yorkers are under the age of 5. 3
Child homelessness can be all but invisible to others, including classmates and teachers, and housing insecurity often means frequently moving homes and switching schools. That makes it difficult for kids experiencing homelessness to maintain peer relationships, and increases their likelihood of dropping out of school due to family instability and social stigma.
What Can Help?
School nurses and guidance counselors, Title 1 school funding, foster care services, clothing and school supply drives, mentorship programs, in-school wraparound family services, supportive arts & sports programming.