The Rising Challenge of Student Homelessness

Photo by Sam Balye on Unsplash

During the 2024-2025 school year, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) identified a total of 5,680 students experiencing  homeless, an 18% increase from the 4,815 students identified during the 2023–2024 school year.

This increase isn’t just a statistic; it reflects the rising housing instability impacting families with minor children across our community.

This week’s blog takes a closer look at the scope of student homelessness, it’s impacts, and the supports available through the McKinney-Vento Act.

UNDERSTANDING STUDENT HOMELESSNESS

The most recent national data available on student homelessness is for the 2022-2023 school year. According to the National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE), during the 2022-2023 school year, 1.4 million students enrolled public schools in the United States experienced homelessness. Nationally, most of these students (75%) lived “doubled up” with other families, 11% lived in shelters, and 9% lived in hotels/motels.

By comparison, Charlotte-Mecklenburg data for the 2023-2024 school year paints a different picture:

• 3955 (69%) students lived doubled up
• 1134 (20%) students lived in hotels or motels (more than twice the national rate)
• 538 (10%) students lived in shelters or transitional housing
• 53 (1%) students lived unsheltered

This high rate of students living in hotels and motels not only reflects the lack of affordable housing options in our community, it also highlights the lack of shelter capacity in our community for families with minor children.  

WHO IS MOST AFFECTED?

In both local and national data, we see disparities in who experiences homelessness.

National data for the 2022-2023 school year show that:

• The largest subgroups of students experiencing homelessness are Hispanic/Latino students (40%), Black/African American students (26%), and White students (25%).
• With the exception of students who identify as Asian, students of color are disproportionately represented when compared to the overall student population.
• Students with disabilities and English learners are also overrepresented among students experiencing homelessness with students with disabilities representing 20% of students experiencing homelessness (compared to 15% in the overall population). English learners make up 22% of students experiencing homelessness (compared to 11% of the general student population).

Locally, 75% of students experiencing homelessness identify as Black or African American (three times the national rate), 16% identify as Hispanic/Latino, and only 4% identify as White. Locally, we do not have data on the percentage of students experiencing homelessness who have a disability or are English learners.

IMPACTS OF HOMELESSNESS ON STUDENTS

When a student becomes homeless, it does not just mean that they have lost their housing. Student homelessness disrupts almost every aspect of a child’s life, from academic performance to emotional and physical well-being, with the impacts often lasting well into adulthood.

The list below is not exhaustive, however, some of the most common impacts of homelessness on students include:

• Physical Health: Lack of access to healthcare, hygiene, and nutritious meals can increase risk for illness, chronic conditions, or developmental delays.
• Mental & Emotional Health: Homelessness can lead to feelings of shame or social isolation and increased risk for anxiety and depression.
• Attendance & Academic Disruptions: Frequent moves can result in attendance challenges which can lead to poor test performance and lower academic achievement.
• Graduation & Future Prospects: Experiencing homelessness can increase a student’s risk of dropping out of school which has the potential to impact future employment, wages, and economic stability.

For a detailed overview of research on student homelessness, see: NCHE Research Summary

THE MCKINNEY-VENTO ACT

In 1987, Congress passed the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act which ensures students experiencing homelessness have access to:

• Transportation assistance to allow students to maintain school stability.
• Immediate enrollment in school regardless of whether they have the typically required vital documents.
• Access to free school meals, school supplies, and support services.
• A dedicated McKinney-Vento liaison whose role is to connect students and their families with community resources.

The law mandates that every public school district in the United States, including CMS, have a designated McKinney-Vento liaison whose role is to advocate for students experiencing homelessness and ensure their rights are protected.