Education plan aims to support homeless students in New York City.
In the lead-up to the upcoming New York City mayoral election, Democratic front-runner Zohran Mamdani has outlined a plan aimed at addressing homelessness among students. He proposes to significantly expand the “Every Child and Family Is Known” initiative, which currently serves a small number of homeless students in public schools. The ambitious proposal aims to increase the number of children served from 3,200 to 7,000 in Mamdani’s first year as mayor, with a long-term goal of extending the program citywide to benefit all homeless families.
Launched as a pilot program, “Every Child and Family Is Known” provides essential support to students living in Department of Homeless Services shelters. This involves regular check-ins with school staff and weekly meetings with parents to foster engagement and ensure educational stability. Approximately one in eight public school students in New York City currently lack a stable home, illuminating the urgent need for targeted assistance.
Mamdani’s campaign emphasizes the fundamental link between housing stability and the ability to succeed academically. Recognition of this need underlines Mamdani’s commitment to support immigrant families residing in shelters while they await asylum status in the United States. Through his recent position paper, he highlights the role of the city in enhancing educational outcomes for these vulnerable populations.
The proposed expansion would notably focus on schools identified as having the greatest need—those with 10 or more students currently residing in DHS shelters. Mamdani aims to increase the number of participating schools from 125 to 230. The estimated cost to implement this program is projected at .6 million, which Mamdani plans to fund through a combination of federal Title I and McKinney-Vento resources, as well as local tax revenues. Each child would cost approximately ,200 to support, which includes funding for staff, educational materials, and professional development.
Mamdani is not alone in addressing the pressing issue of youth homelessness; his opponents also recognize its importance. Independent candidate and former Governor Andrew Cuomo has pledged to prioritize schools that serve homeless students for conversion into “community schools,” which provide comprehensive support services. GOP nominee Curtis Sliwa has similarly called attention to the concerning rates of student homelessness amid city-funded migrant shelters.
Recent responses from policy experts and youth advocates have lauded Mamdani’s initiative, while also stressing the need for broader reforms. These include establishing shelter-based coordinators and improving transportation options for students to facilitate consistent access to education. Currently, data indicates that nearly two-thirds of children living in shelters are chronically absent from school—a stark contrast to the attendance rates of their housed peers.
As New York City navigates the complexities of homelessness and education, Mamdani’s proposal for enhancing the “Every Child and Family Is Known” program marks a critical step toward addressing the challenges faced by homeless students. The initiative underscores a pivotal intersection between housing and educational attainment, setting the stage for a larger conversation about the role of city policies in fostering equity and support for all children. As the election date approaches, the effectiveness of these ideas will be closely scrutinized by voters and stakeholders alike.
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