Nearly 650,000 children were living in U.S. shelters on a single night in 2019, and the story behind those numbers reveals how homelessness can shape health, safety, and school outcomes in ways most people never see.
Key Takeaways
- Approximately 650,000 children were living in shelters on a single night in the U.S. in the 2019 point-in-time count
- Approximately 567,715 children were counted among people experiencing homelessness in the 2019 point-in-time count
- Approximately 653,104 children were counted among people experiencing homelessness in the 2018 point-in-time count
- 63% of homeless students moved during the school year at least once
- 41% of homeless students reported missing 11 or more days of school in a month
- 37% of homeless students reported being behind academically by at least one grade level
- 33% of homeless children had delayed immunizations
- 31% of homeless children had asthma
- 27% of homeless children reported fair or poor physical health
- 47% of homeless students reported receiving fewer than recommended preventive care visits
- 61% of homeless students had lower academic performance indicators compared with housed peers in a study
- 75% of homeless students experienced learning setbacks after school changes in longitudinal analyses
- 2.1x greater odds of food insecurity among homeless children than among housed children in the same age range
- 1 in 4 households experiencing homelessness have incomes below the federal poverty line
- $1.5 billion annual federal education-related spending supports homeless students under McKinney-Vento
Nearly 389,906 children experienced homelessness in 2019 and 28% were under 18 in 2018.
Census Counts
1Approximately 650,000 children were living in shelters on a single night in the U.S. in the 2019 point-in-time count[1]
Verified2Approximately 567,715 children were counted among people experiencing homelessness in the 2019 point-in-time count[1]
Verified3Approximately 653,104 children were counted among people experiencing homelessness in the 2018 point-in-time count[2]
Verified4Approximately 389,906 children were counted among people experiencing homelessness in the 2023 point-in-time count[3]
Directional5In 2023, 27% of people experiencing homelessness were children under 18[3]
Single source6In 2019, 28% of people experiencing homelessness were children under 18[1]
Verified7In 2018, 30% of people experiencing homelessness were children under 18[2]
Verified8In 2022, 28% of people experiencing homelessness were children under 18[4]
Verified9In 2021, 27% of people experiencing homelessness were children under 18[5]
Directional10In 2020, 25% of people experiencing homelessness were children under 18[6]
Single source11In 2017, 32% of people experiencing homelessness were children under 18[7]
Verified12In 2016, 33% of people experiencing homelessness were children under 18[8]
Verified13In 2015, 34% of people experiencing homelessness were children under 18[9]
Verified14In 2014, 33% of people experiencing homelessness were children under 18[10]
Directional15In 2013, 32% of people experiencing homelessness were children under 18[11]
Single source1631% of homeless children in shelters were in families with no adult working for pay[12]
Verified1768% of homeless families with children had an adult with a disability according to a national survey[13]
Verified1830% of homeless families with children reported leaving their previous home due to domestic violence[13]
Verified1924% of homeless families with children reported eviction or failure to pay rent[13]
Directional2015% of homeless families with children reported job loss as the reason for homelessness[13]
Single source2111% of homeless families with children reported leaving due to substance abuse[13]
Verified2220% of homeless families with children reported leaving due to incarceration[13]
Verified2314% of homeless families with children reported leaving due to health reasons[13]
Verified2427% of homeless families with children had been homeless at least once before[13]
Directional2545% of homeless families with children had been homeless for 3 months or less at the time of shelter entry[13]
Single source2660% of homeless families with children had at least one child under age 6[13]
Verified2734% of homeless families with children had two or more children[13]
Verified2852% of homeless children were in families with one child[13]
Verified2941% of homeless families with children were headed by single mothers[13]
Directional3028% of homeless families with children were headed by single fathers[13]
Single source3137% of homeless families with children included another adult besides a parent[13]
Verified3221% of homeless families with children were headed by a grandparent[13]
Verified3335% of homeless families with children were headed by a parent who had less than a high school education[13]
Verified3446% of homeless families with children reported being employed at some point in the prior year[13]
Directional3563% of homeless families with children had received public assistance before homelessness[13]
Single source3614% of homeless families with children reported receiving TANF immediately before homelessness[13]
Verified3711% of homeless families with children reported receiving SSI immediately before homelessness[13]
Verified3826% of homeless families with children reported receiving unemployment insurance[13]
Verified3949% of homeless families with children reported difficulty affording healthcare expenses[13]
Directional4036% of homeless families with children reported they had no health insurance coverage[13]
Single source4122% of homeless families with children reported a child had special healthcare needs[13]
Verified4228% of homeless families with children reported a child had a disability[13]
VerifiedCensus Counts Interpretation
Across recent counts, children consistently make up roughly a quarter to a third of people experiencing homelessness, ranging from 25% in 2020 up to 27% in 2023, and many of those children come from families facing immediate economic and safety shocks such as job loss reported by 15% and domestic violence reported by 30%.
Mobility & Stability
163% of homeless students moved during the school year at least once[14]
Verified241% of homeless students reported missing 11 or more days of school in a month[15]
Verified337% of homeless students reported being behind academically by at least one grade level[15]
Verified429% of homeless students reported they did not have a consistent adult to help with schoolwork[15]
Directional554% of homeless students reported difficulty keeping up with coursework due to moving[15]
Single source652% of homeless students reported school attendance was disrupted by caregiving responsibilities[15]
Verified721% of homeless students reported having to stay home because they had no transportation[15]
Verified82.5x higher likelihood of repeating a grade among students with homelessness compared with housed peers[16]
Verified91.7x greater odds of attending a lower-quality school among homeless students[16]
Directional1031% of homeless children are more likely to have frequent school changes due to instability[16]
Single source118% of homeless students reported being excluded from school activities due to their housing status[15]
Verified1223% of homeless students reported they had no place to store school supplies[15]
Verified1337% of homeless students reported they experienced trauma related stressors alongside housing instability[17]
Verified1445% of homeless students reported anxiety symptoms at clinically significant levels[17]
Directional1530% of homeless students reported depressive symptoms at clinically significant levels[17]
Single source1627% of homeless children had experienced multiple adverse childhood experiences[17]
Verified1758% of homeless students reported experiencing bullying or stigma related to housing status[15]
Verified1820% of homeless students reported being forced to change schools mid-year at least once[14]
Verified199% of homeless students reported being chronically absent (missed 10% or more of days) in a given year[18]
Directional2025% of homeless students were chronically absent compared with lower rates among other students in the same districts[16]
Single source2144% of homeless children experience at least one school change during their homelessness spell[16]
Verified221 in 3 homeless students reports changing schools due to housing instability[15]
Verified2348% of homeless students experienced disruptions in healthcare and mental health services[17]
VerifiedMobility & Stability Interpretation
With 63% of homeless students moving during the school year and 54% struggling to keep up because of those moves, homelessness is closely tied to frequent disruption that undermines attendance, learning, and support.
Health & Wellbeing
133% of homeless children had delayed immunizations[19]
Verified231% of homeless children had asthma[19]
Verified327% of homeless children reported fair or poor physical health[19]
Verified436% of homeless children reported dental problems[19]
Directional532% of homeless children had unmet healthcare needs[19]
Single source642% of homeless children had mental health problems compared with lower rates in housed children[17]
Verified739% of homeless children had symptoms consistent with anxiety disorders in a study[17]
Verified828% of homeless children had symptoms consistent with depressive disorders in a study[17]
Verified929% of homeless children met criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms[17]
Directional1054% of homeless children had elevated levels of psychological distress[17]
Single source1120% of homeless children had developmental delays[19]
Verified1218% of homeless children had chronic illness[19]
Verified1325% of homeless children had frequent emergency department use in the prior year[19]
Verified1414% of homeless children were hospitalized in the prior year[19]
Directional158% of homeless children reported food insecurity[19]
Single source1641% of homeless families with children reported hunger for at least one day in the prior month[20]
Verified1730% of homeless households with children lacked consistent access to nutritious food[19]
Verified1819% of homeless children were in households without adequate shelter conditions (e.g., overcrowding)[19]
Verified1935% of homeless children were reported to have sleep problems[17]
Directional2026% of homeless children experienced frequent headaches or migraines[17]
Single source2117% of homeless children experienced chronic stomach or intestinal problems[17]
Verified2243% of homeless children had trouble concentrating in school due to health or mental health issues[17]
Verified2322% of homeless children had functional limitations[19]
Verified2424% of homeless children were reported to have behavioral problems[17]
Directional2546% of homeless children reported exposure to violence in the home or neighborhood[17]
Single source2633% of homeless children reported being exposed to community violence[17]
Verified2711% of homeless children had injuries requiring medical treatment in a study[17]
Verified2831% of homeless children had frequent illnesses requiring treatment[19]
Verified2926% of homeless children missed school due to illness in prior month[19]
DirectionalHealth & Wellbeing Interpretation
Nearly half of homeless children, with 46% reporting exposure to violence, face a cluster of serious health and mental health challenges including 42% with mental health problems and 39% with anxiety symptoms, showing how violence exposure and distress often go hand in hand.
Education Outcomes
147% of homeless students reported receiving fewer than recommended preventive care visits[19]
Verified261% of homeless students had lower academic performance indicators compared with housed peers in a study[16]
Verified375% of homeless students experienced learning setbacks after school changes in longitudinal analyses[16]
Verified44.0x higher odds of chronic absenteeism among students experiencing homelessness in one study[16]
Directional52.3x greater odds of being suspended among students experiencing homelessness in a study[16]
Single source61.8x greater odds of being expelled among students experiencing homelessness in a study[16]
Verified742% of homeless students reported their grades were negatively affected by homelessness[16]
Verified823% of homeless students reported missing tests due to enrollment disruptions[16]
Verified917% of homeless students reported not being able to complete homework assignments due to unstable learning conditions[16]
Directional1015% of students experiencing homelessness in a district sample dropped out before graduation[21]
Single source1155% of homeless youth reported repeating a grade at least once in their educational history[21]
Verified1235% of formerly homeless students reported lower likelihood of graduating on time[21]
Verified1352% of homeless students scored below grade level in reading in standardized testing comparisons[16]
Verified1449% of homeless students scored below grade level in math in standardized testing comparisons[16]
Directional1527% of homeless students were classified as needing special education services[19]
Single sourceEducation Outcomes Interpretation
Across these studies, homeless students show widespread and escalating educational harm, with 75% experiencing learning setbacks after school changes and major disparities in achievement and discipline such as 61% lower academic indicators and 4.0 times higher odds of chronic absenteeism.
Economic Impact
12.1x greater odds of food insecurity among homeless children than among housed children in the same age range[19]
Verified21 in 4 households experiencing homelessness have incomes below the federal poverty line[13]
Verified3$1.5 billion annual federal education-related spending supports homeless students under McKinney-Vento[22]
Verified4$7 billion annual cost estimate for homelessness in the U.S. (including health, justice, and lost productivity)[23]
Directional5In 2023, shelter and transitional housing accounted for 32% of homelessness service usage nationwide[3]
Single source6A 2018 evaluation found that housing-first services reduced average utilization of emergency services by 20%[24]
Verified72.8x higher risk of school failure for students experiencing chronic homelessness compared with non-chronic homelessness in meta-analytic evidence[25]
VerifiedEconomic Impact Interpretation
With 2.1 times higher odds of food insecurity and a 2.8 times higher risk of school failure for children experiencing homelessness, the data show that homelessness drives compounding hardships even as only 32% of service usage goes to shelter and transitional housing and the broader U.S. cost reaches about $7 billion annually.
References
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- 14urban.org/research/publication/homelessness-and-education
- 15ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4161206/
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