Addressing Student Homelessness: A Call for Compassion and Support

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In today’s blog, we’re delving into a topic that affects many students across America: homelessness. It’s a tough situation for anyone, especially kids trying to learn and grow in school. Did you know that many students don’t have a stable place to call home? This can make it really hard for them to focus on their schoolwork. They might not have a quiet place to study or even enough food to eat. It’s a big problem, but there are things we can do to help.

The documentary “Homeless in America” gives us a glimpse into the lives of homeless students. One student shared, “Sometimes I don’t know where I’m gonna sleep at night. It’s hard to focus on school when you’re worried about where you’ll lay your head.” This shows us just how challenging it is for these kids to concentrate on their studies when they don’t have a safe place to sleep.

According to a report from the National Center for Homeless Education, over 1.5 million students in the U.S. experienced homelessness during the 2020-2021 school year. That’s a huge number of kids who need help and support.

One law that’s really important for homeless students is called the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act. It says that schools have to help students who don’t have a stable place to live. They have to make sure these students can still go to school and get the help they need to learn.

“Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City” is a book that helps us understand why so many people end up homeless. The author writes, “Eviction isn’t just a condition of poverty; it’s a cause of it.” This means that being forced out of your home, or evicted, often leads to homelessness, and it’s a big problem that needs to be addressed.

The McKinney-Vento Act ensures that homeless students have access to the same educational opportunities as their housed peers, regardless of their living situation. According to the New York State Education Department, this act requires schools to provide support services to help homeless students overcome obstacles to their academic success.

Music can also help us understand. In the song “Same Love” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Mary Lambert, the lyrics talk about accepting and supporting each other, no matter who we are. This is really important for homeless students too – they need our support to feel safe and welcome at school.

But it’s not enough to just know about homelessness – we need to take action to help. We can start by speaking up for homeless students and making sure our schools have the resources they need to support them. By showing kindness and understanding, we can make a big difference in the lives of homeless students, helping them feel valued and supported as they work towards their educational goals. Together, we can make a difference and create a school environment where every student feels safe, supported, and ready to learn.

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References:

Cai, J. (2020, July 27). Homeless Students in Public Schools Across America: Down but Not OutLinks to an external site.. National School Boards Association. https://www.nsba.org/Perspectives/2021/homeless-students

De Mare, A., Kelly, K., & Taber, K. (Producers), & De Mare, A., & Kelly, K. (Directors). (2014). The homestretch [Streaming video]. United States: Bullfrog Films.

Desmond, M. (2016). Evicted: Poverty and profit in the American city. Broadway Books.

Macklemore LLC. (2012). Same Love [Recorded by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Mary Lambert]. On The Heist [CD]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlVBg7_08n0

Mc-Kinney Vento Homeless Education. (2021). New York State Education Department. http://www.nysed.gov/essa/mckinney-vento-homeless-education

National Center for Homeless Education. (2022).  Student Homelessness in America School Years 2018-19 to 2020-21.  Student Homelessness in America (ed.gov)