The Students You Don’t See: Teen Homelessness in Portland Schools

 

When we talk about homelessness in Portland, the focus usually lands on the visibly unhoused. Adults on sidewalks, people living in cars, tents under bridges. But there is another side to the story. As of 2024, more than 2,300 students in Multnomah County are classified as homeless. These are teenagers attending school while couch surfing, living in shelters, or sleeping in cars with their families. These young people are often invisible. They do not always look homeless. They may carry a backpack, go to class, or even work a part-time job. But they are fighting battles that most students do not face. Many switch schools frequently, have trouble concentrating in class, or miss days due to transportation and instability.

Portland Public Schools has resources through the McKinney-Vento program, which offers help with bus passes, school supplies, and connection to housing services. But demand outpaces funding. Teachers and counselors often have to stretch thin to support students who are hungry, anxious, or exhausted from sleeping in a shelter. Homelessness among youth is not just a housing issue. It is an education issue, a mental health issue, and a safety issue. When teenagers experience long-term instability, it shapes their view of the future. It becomes harder to believe in college, jobs, or even adulthood. Some drop out. Some end up on the street permanently. Programs like p:ear and New Avenues for Youth are working to interrupt this cycle. They offer mentorship, meals, housing support, and job readiness for Portland’s homeless youth. Still, more needs to be done to protect this vulnerable group.

Why should this matter to you? These students are not just statistics. They are people just like you quietly carrying adult burdens before they are even old enough to vote. If we allow their potential to unravel due to circumstances beyond their control, the loss is not just theirs. It is ours. We do not build stronger communities by leaving children to fend for themselves. We build them by stepping in early, while there is still time to help shape a different ending.

You can be part of that change. To donate or volunteer with New Avenues for Youth, click here: https://newavenues.org/get-involved

References:

Greene, J. (2024). 2024 Oregon Statewide Homelessness Estimates. Portland State University.  

 https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/context/hrac_pub/article/1051/viewcontent/Oregon_Statewide_Homelessness_Report_2024___Jacen_Greene.pdf

Portland Public Schools. (n.d.). McKinney-Vento Homeless Program. https://www.pps.net/mckinney-vento