Nearly 14% of NYC public school children are homeless, marking a record high, according to a recent report.
An unprecedented total of 154,000 children enrolled in New York City’s public schools experienced homelessness during the previous academic year, marking nearly one in seven students affected. This alarming statistic emerges amidst the backdrop of an intensifying affordability crisis facing the city. According to a report released by Advocates for Children of New York, the number of homeless students would constitute one of the 20 largest school districts in the nation if they were measured as such.
The implications of homelessness on educational achievement are dire. Data reveals that 42% of homeless students spent some nights or the entirety of the school year in shelters. Over half of these students were known to stay temporarily with friends or family, often in cramped conditions, while roughly 7,000 children lacked stable housing entirely. Reports indicate that some neighborhoods, particularly East Harlem and the Bronx’s Concourse, reported homelessness rates among students as high as one in five.
The challenges faced by families are multifaceted. For instance, a mother in the system described the arduous routine of juggling multiple shelter locations, which drastically disrupted her children’s commutes to Public School 219 in Brooklyn. The instability in their living situation resulted not only in chronic absenteeism but also diminished academic performance. Studies indicate that over two-thirds of students residing in shelters were classified as chronically absent during the 2023-24 school year, and their state exam scores were approximately half those of their peers with stable housing.
The issue of homelessness extends beyond mere absenteeism. A staggering one in eight homeless students dropped out of high school — three times the dropout rate of their housed counterparts. Educational stability has been deemed critical in breaking the cycle of homelessness, as a high school diploma can significantly impact an individual’s future housing stability.
In response to the mounting crisis, city officials, including those under Mayor Eric Adams, have adjusted the education funding formula to allocate additional resources to schools with high rates of homeless students. The administration has introduced various support mechanisms, including enrollment and immunization assistance, shelter-based school staff, and specialized attendance programs targeting families’ basic needs.
Advocacy groups are calling for heightened commitment from local agencies and the next mayor to prioritize the educational success of homeless students. Proposals for closer coordination between shelter locations and schools, as well as improvements to school transportation, have been presented.
Recent legislative efforts are also underway to modify the school aid formula at the state level to better cater to the needs of students facing housing insecurity. Advocacy organizations stress that collaboration between city agencies is essential to ensure that the educational needs of homeless children are adequately supported.
As families like the one highlighted in this report strive for stability, the path to overcoming educational barriers remains fraught with challenges. Despite securing housing, concerns about financial strains and the fear of returning to homelessness persist. This ongoing crisis emphasizes the urgent need for systemic solutions to support vulnerable children and their families amid New York City’s escalating affordability challenges.
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