First Ever Look at Child and Youth Homelessness Data at County and Congressional Levels Released by SchoolHouse Connection and Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan
National nonprofit SchoolHouse Connection and Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan recently released searchable data profiles that make available—for the first time—data on child and youth homelessness at the county and congressional levels, as well as the national, state, and school district levels.
“One of the important elements of the data profiles is that they allow communities to explore the under-identification of children experiencing homelessness may be taking place. We know that under-identification is widespread and that it negatively impacts children, depriving them of critical support. With these data, communities can change this long-standing issue,” said Jennifer Erb-Downward, director of housing stability programs and polity initiatives at U-M’s Poverty Solutions.
Based on the data profiles, in Washington state 3.0% of all K-12 children were identified as experiencing homelessness in the 2020-2021 school year, and of these, 13.5% were “youth on their own”.
Two new analyses accompany the data profiles.
- Seen and Served: How Dedicated Federal Funding Supports the Identification of Students Experiencing Homelessness. This report examines patterns of under-identification among school districts that do and do not receive dedicated funding to serve children and youth experiencing homelessness, including rural school districts and public charter schools. The analysis reveals that the likelihood of under-identification is much higher in school districts without dedicated funding, and that the number of school districts receiving dedicated homeless education funding more than doubled as a result of a bipartisan amendment to the American Rescue Plan Act, now reaching over half of all school districts,
- The Education of Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness: Current Trends, Challenges, and Needs. An analysis of recent trends in child and youth homelessness show the impact of the pandemic, including a disproportionate decline in enrollment and increase in chronic absenteeism.
An upcoming webinar on Tuesday, March 14 will help guide the use of the data profiles to improve practice and policy for children and youth experiencing homelessness.
[button link=”#https://www.784f4b0c48.nxcli.io/event-calendar/data-to-action-h…ing-homelessness/)” newwindow=”yes”] Upcoming Webinar Details[/button]
