The Overlooked U.S. Student Population Experiencing Homelessness

A prominent, yet often overlooked segment of the United State’s homeless population is, surprisingly, students in primary, secondary, and post-secondary education. To put into perspective how large this segment is, over 1.5 million students reported experiencing homelessness during the 2017-18 school year, according to a study by the National Center for Homeless Education. This statistic only represents those who are in either primary or secondary education. Students experiencing homelessness and poverty also attend colleges and universities across the country. The exact number of students is currently unknown since many tend to hide their situation by living with friends or in their vehicles. However, the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth suggests that there are at least around 58,000 students and most likely more.

Looking at the root causes of homeless youth in this nation, common factors include housing instability, unemployment, poverty, and mental illness. Students experiencing poverty, specifically those in the upper age bracket, most likely experience all four of these factors, making it incredibly difficult to simultaneously acquire an education. Studies have shown that only 24%-29% of secondary students experiencing homelessness and poverty achieved academic proficiency in mathematics, reading, and science. With such scores, gaining acceptance to university or college, which is a necessity for escaping poverty, becomes increasingly difficult. 

Aside from the aforementioned factors, a challenge that students experiencing homelessness face is coping with the embarrassment and stressors that come with being homeless. As opposed to worrying about grades, students experiencing homelessness must put a majority of their energy into worrying about where they will sleep, what they will eat, and how they will live each day. Most post-secondary students who find themselves in the situation will stay with friends but often find themselves sleeping in cars, on streets, or in parks. If students are to run out of places to stay, they may even drop out of school. Though they understand that completing their education and obtaining a job will enable them to escape homelessness, going to classes does not. Hence, many students will also get part-time jobs but between paying for food, school necessities, and tuition, the yearly salary is usually not enough to sustain their costs of living. Ultimately, this leads to students having to choose between school or eating well and sleeping safely, and the choice is often obvious – the latter.

The reason the number of students experiencing homelessness has been increasing over the past few years is directly related to the previously mentioned root causes. The most prominent issue being, by far, the national housing crisis. House expenses have skyrocketed to the point that millions of United States citizens, with full-time jobs, are spending over half their income on housing or simply cannot afford it. Alternatively, students experiencing homelessness who do graduate from college or university may find a job in their field but are faced with massive loans that they must now pay off. This limits their disposable income to a much smaller number that is often just barely enough to pay for an apartment but not much else. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, many jobs have also been lost, exaggerating this housing issue further.

Many in the homelessness non-profit sector recommend that increased housing be provided at affordable prices to support those currently in need. Beyond that, mass awareness campaigns should be implemented to not only draw attention to the issue, but also make those experiencing homelessness aware of the support available to them. Such services do exist but are not taken advantage of enough by those who truly need them. For example, EEqual, a 501(c)(3) youth-led non-profit provides both mentorship and monetary support for individuals experiencing homelessness wishing to acquire a college education. Moreover, EEqual has a vision to make it possible for every student to receive an “EEqual” opportunity to achieve their full potential in education regardless of economic status.

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