Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness
The issue of homelessness has hit an all-time high in 2023, with the homeless population rising 12% this past year alone. (Ludden, 2023) The increase is partially due to the lack of affordable housing, aid running out, and rising inflation. 2023 showed the highest percentage of homeless are first-time homeless, and families. (Ludden, 2023)
In 2023 The National Alliance to End Homelessness reported there were an estimated 186,0084 family members and 57,563 family households identified as homeless, and of f those approximately 17,385 people in families that lived on the street, in a car, or couch-surfed from home to home.
What causes families to become homeless
Much of what causes families to become homeless is the same as other members of the homeless population. Many are already in poverty, lose employment, earn low wages, have unexpected expenses, and high cost of rent, or have disagreements with family members that they are currently living with. Like many others in this country families are experiencing an unaffordable housing market. Rent accounts for most of their low wages, and when something comes up they no longer have the money to pay rent and lose their place to live resulting in homelessness.
Impacts of children experiencing homelessness
Impacts of Homelessness on Children
Homelessness can impact children in several ways. Children experiencing homelessness often suffer from higher levels of emotional and behavioral problems. This is due to the increased risks, stress, uncertainty, and trauma that these children may face. Children often have an increased risk of health problems, due to lack of healthcare and unsanitary living conditions. Children may experience adverse relationships with caregivers because caregivers are also in a fight or flight response due to high-stress situations. (Labella, Narayan, McCormick, Desjardins, & Masten, 2019). This can cause homeless children to be more likely to be separated from their families, resulting in foster care. Research shows children who experience homelessness are 34 times more likely to be placed in out-of-home care. (Casey Family Programs, 2024) All of this increases the likelihood of trauma for children, which often results in lower academic performance.
There is hope for homeless children
Children are highly resilient. Programs that work with caregivers and children can build resiliency skills and help end the cycle of homelessness, thus increasing the risk factors and stress children encounter. Programs that focus on parent-child interactions and support can help build a healthy parent-child bond, forming healthy attachments for children. Studies have shown that once children are no longer homeless, they often score the same as children in poverty once the stress of homelessness is removed. (Ludden, 2023)
References
Casey Family Programs. (2024, April 5). https://www.casey.org/
Children and families. National Alliance to End Homelessness. (2023, December 18). https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/who-experiences-homelessness/children-and-families/
Labella, M. H., Narayan, A. J., McCormick, C. M., Desjardins, C. D., & Masten, A. S. (2019). Risk and Adversity, Parenting Quality, and Children’s Social‐Emotional Adjustment in Families Experiencing Homelessness. Child Development, 90(1), 227–244. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12894
Ludden, J. (2023, December 15). Homelessness in the U.S. hit a record high last year as pandemic aid ran out. NPR. https://www.npr.org/homelessness-affordable-housing-crisis-rent-assistance
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