More than 1.5 million public-school students were identified as experiencing homelessness during the 2023–24 school year, according to federal education data summarized by the National Center for Homeless Education. Housing insecurity does not always mean sleeping on the street; students may be staying temporarily with relatives or friends, living in motels, shelters, cars or other unstable situations. Schools can support these students by identifying them early, protecting educational stability, providing transportation and connecting families with food, housing and other community resources under the McKinney-Vento framework.
Introduction
🏠 Students facing housing insecurity can experience major disruptions to their education, but schools, teachers, counselors and communities can take practical steps to help them stay connected to learning.
The issue has gained renewed attention following the release of federal data showing that more than 1.5 million students in PreK–12 were identified as experiencing homelessness during the 2023–24 school year, the latest national school-year data currently summarized by the National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE). The U.S. Department of Education published its latest national data summary in March 2026.
The numbers include children and young people who may not look homeless in the traditional sense. Under the federal McKinney-Vento definition, a student can qualify when they lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. That can include living in a shelter, motel or car, or temporarily sharing housing with other people because of the loss of housing or economic hardship.
That distinction matters.
A student who arrives at school with clean clothes and a backpack may still be sleeping on a different couch every few nights. Another student may be living in a motel with their family after losing permanent housing. Others may be moving between relatives, shelters or temporary accommodations.
For educators, recognizing those circumstances can be the first step toward providing meaningful support.
What Happened?
The latest federal data has put renewed focus on how schools identify and support students experiencing homelessness and housing instability.
The U.S. Department of Education’s March 2026 data summary covers school years 2021–22 through 2023–24 and examines enrollment, housing situations, demographic characteristics, chronic absenteeism, early-childhood homelessness and graduation outcomes.
The federal education system uses the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to address educational barriers associated with homelessness.
The law is designed around an important principle: losing stable housing should not mean losing access to a stable education.
Eligible students have rights that can include immediate enrollment, continued attendance at their school of origin and transportation to that school when appropriate. Schools also have responsibilities to identify students and connect them with available services.
The challenge is that housing insecurity can be difficult to see.
Students and families may not describe themselves as homeless. Parents may be worried about stigma or may not know that staying temporarily with relatives because of financial hardship can qualify their children for McKinney-Vento protections.
As a result, identification itself has become an important part of the response.
Key Details
Here are some of the most important facts educators and families should understand:
- More than 1.5 million students were identified as experiencing homelessness during the 2023–24 school year.
- The federal definition can include students living in shelters, motels, cars and other places not designed for regular nighttime residence.
- Students who are temporarily doubled up with friends or relatives because of housing loss or economic hardship can also qualify.
- Eligible students can generally enroll immediately, even when they do not have documents normally required for enrollment.
- Students can have the right to remain in their school of origin, when applicable.
- Transportation to and from the school of origin may be available under McKinney-Vento protections.
- Schools can connect families with community resources, including food, clothing, supplies, housing assistance and other services.
- Students experiencing homelessness may also face transportation, attendance and academic barriers that go beyond the direct problem of finding somewhere to sleep.
What Does Housing Insecurity Mean for a Student?
Housing insecurity is broader than the image many people associate with homelessness.
A student may be housing insecure if their family has lost permanent housing and is temporarily staying somewhere else.
Examples can include:
Staying with relatives or friends
A family that can no longer afford its home might move into another family’s house.
This is often described as doubling up.
Because the family technically has somewhere to stay, the situation may not be immediately recognized as homelessness. Under McKinney-Vento, however, living with others because of loss of housing or economic hardship can qualify.
Living in a motel or hotel
Some families temporarily use hotels or motels after losing housing.
This can create additional problems for students, including transportation difficulties, lack of quiet study space and frequent moves.
Living in a vehicle
Some students may be living with their families in cars, vans or other vehicles.
School staff may not know unless a student or parent feels safe enough to disclose the situation.
Staying in an emergency shelter
Shelters can provide immediate protection, but families may still face disruptions involving transportation, school enrollment, belongings, privacy and daily routines.
Unaccompanied youth
Some students experience homelessness without being in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.
These young people can face particularly complicated barriers to enrollment, transportation, housing and access to financial resources.
Why Early Identification Matters
One of the most important ways to support students facing housing insecurity is to identify their circumstances as early as possible.
The Institute for Children, Poverty & Homelessness reported in 2026 that official school counts may not capture every student experiencing homelessness. Its analysis estimated potential underidentification in numerous jurisdictions and emphasized that students must first be identified before they can receive McKinney-Vento services.
This makes the role of teachers, counselors, social workers and school administrators particularly important.
A student may show signs such as:
- Frequent absences or lateness
- Sudden changes in transportation
- Difficulty completing homework
- Fatigue during class
- Frequent moves or school changes
- Lack of school supplies
- Wearing the same clothing repeatedly
- Increased anxiety about going home
- Changes in behavior or academic performance
None of these signs automatically means a student is homeless.
That is important.
Educators should not make assumptions based on appearance or behavior. Instead, concerns should be handled privately and respectfully, with trained school personnel involved when appropriate.
How Schools Can Support Students Facing Housing Insecurity
1. Create a safe way to ask for help
Students and parents need to know where they can go without being embarrassed or judged.
Schools can clearly communicate the availability of counselors, social workers and McKinney-Vento liaisons.
Information can be provided through student handbooks, enrollment materials, websites, parent meetings and school offices.
2. Protect educational stability
Changing schools repeatedly can make it harder for students to maintain relationships, follow coursework and keep up academically.
McKinney-Vento protections can allow eligible students to remain in their school of origin when that is in the student’s best interest and otherwise permitted under the law.
The U.S. Department of Education has emphasized the importance of school stability for children and youth experiencing homelessness.
3. Address transportation problems
Transportation can become one of the biggest practical barriers.
A family may move to a different part of town or temporarily stay outside the school’s usual attendance area.
When a student is eligible for transportation under McKinney-Vento, schools and districts should work to arrange it promptly.
Federal guidance specifically identifies transportation as an important component of educational stability.
4. Provide school supplies and basic necessities
Students cannot always focus on schoolwork when they lack basic necessities.
Schools and community organizations can help with:
- Backpacks
- Notebooks
- Clothing
- Shoes
- Hygiene supplies
- Meals
- Technology
- Laundry resources
- School fees and activity-related needs where permitted
Some school districts already operate clothing closets and similar programs.
For example, Bristol Township School District in Pennsylvania reported in 2026 that community partners helped replenish a resource closet for students experiencing housing insecurity with clothing, hygiene products and school supplies.
5. Connect families with community organizations
Schools do not have to solve housing insecurity alone.
A school counselor or McKinney-Vento liaison can help connect families with organizations that provide:
- Emergency housing
- Rental assistance
- Food
- Healthcare
- Transportation
- Legal assistance
- Mental-health services
- Clothing
- Employment support
The goal is to create a network around the student rather than expecting the child or family to navigate every service independently.
Background: What Is the McKinney-Vento Act?
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is the main federal law protecting the educational rights of children and youth experiencing homelessness.
The education provisions were originally enacted in 1987 and were most recently amended through the Every Student Succeeds Act.
The U.S. Department of Education describes the program as a way to remove educational barriers created by homelessness and help students with identification, enrollment, attendance and academic success.
A student generally does not need to be sleeping on the street to qualify.
This is one of the most important points for families and educators to understand.
The federal definition can cover situations involving:
- Shelters
- Motels
- Cars
- Parks or other places not intended for regular sleeping
- Temporary housing with relatives or friends because of economic hardship
- Other situations where there is no fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence
The exact determination is made through the applicable school district and state processes.
What Officials and Organizations Said
The U.S. Department of Education’s latest national data report highlights the scale and characteristics of homelessness among children and youth across the country. The report covers three school years and includes information on housing circumstances, attendance and educational outcomes.
The National Center for Homeless Education, which maintains national and state-level data resources, says its latest data summary provides information on students experiencing homelessness and their housing situations, along with chronic absenteeism and graduation outcomes.
Recent analysis from the Learning Policy Institute has also examined how state-level investment can affect student identification, school stability and graduation outcomes. Its September 2026 report on Washington state found improvements in those areas following additional state investment in supports for students experiencing homelessness.
These findings do not mean every state will achieve the same results by adopting identical policies. But they demonstrate why funding, identification and coordinated services are recurring issues in discussions about student homelessness.
Housing Insecurity Can Affect College Students Too
Housing insecurity is not limited to elementary and high school students.
College students can also struggle with unstable housing.
The Hope Center for Student Basic Needs’ 2023–24 Student Basic Needs Survey included more than 74,000 students at 91 institutions across 16 states. It found that 48% of respondents experienced housing insecurity and 14% experienced homelessness. The survey is not a nationally representative sample of all U.S. college students, so its results should not be treated as a national prevalence estimate.
Separate research involving CUNY students has also examined the relationship between housing instability, food insecurity and academic attrition. The study found higher attrition risk among students experiencing these combined hardships.
For colleges, support may include emergency housing, basic-needs centers, food assistance, financial aid guidance and connections to local housing organizations.
What Teachers and Classmates Can Do
Teachers do not need to become housing specialists to help.
Small actions can make a difference.
Listen without judgment
If a student discloses that their family is moving between homes, avoid asking unnecessary personal questions in front of classmates.
A private, respectful conversation is more appropriate.
Refer rather than investigate
Teachers should not attempt to determine a student’s legal eligibility themselves.
Instead, they can refer the student or family to the school’s McKinney-Vento liaison, counselor or social worker.
Offer flexibility when appropriate
A student who has recently moved may have difficulty completing homework or arriving on time.
School staff can work within their policies to identify reasonable academic supports while maintaining educational expectations.
Protect privacy
A student’s housing situation is personal.
Information should be shared with staff who need it to provide appropriate support, consistent with applicable privacy requirements and school policies.
Maintain normal expectations
Students experiencing housing insecurity should not automatically be treated as incapable of succeeding.
Support should remove barriers while preserving the student’s dignity, academic opportunities and sense of belonging.
Why This Matters
Housing instability can affect nearly every part of a student’s school experience.
A student who moves frequently may lose access to familiar teachers and friends. Transportation problems can result in absences. A lack of internet access can make homework difficult. Crowded temporary housing can make studying challenging.
The latest federal data show that chronic absenteeism is a significant issue among students experiencing homelessness. A 2026 congressional testimony drawing on the federal data reported that 47.7% of students experiencing homelessness were chronically absent during the 2023–24 school year.
That does not mean housing insecurity determines a student’s academic future.
It means schools have an important opportunity to reduce some of the educational barriers associated with unstable housing.
The response therefore needs to be broader than simply asking whether a student has a place to sleep tonight.
Schools may need to consider transportation, attendance, enrollment, academic continuity, food, supplies, technology and connections to community services.
What Happens Next?
The immediate challenge is improving identification and ensuring that students who qualify for existing protections actually receive them.
The U.S. Department of Education’s national data collection will continue to provide information about students experiencing homelessness, while states and school districts are responsible for implementing education protections and services.
Some states and districts are also experimenting with additional funding and partnerships.
For example, the Learning Policy Institute’s September 2026 analysis of Washington found that state investment beyond federal McKinney-Vento funding was associated with improvements in identification, school stability and graduation rates.
Other districts are developing local partnerships involving schools, nonprofits, housing organizations and community agencies.
The exact model will vary from one community to another.
What remains consistent is the need to make support easier to find and easier to access.
A Practical Support Checklist
For educators and school communities, the following checklist can provide a starting point:
Identify
- Know who the school’s McKinney-Vento liaison is.
- Understand the federal definition of homelessness.
- Watch for changes in attendance or living circumstances without making assumptions.
Connect
- Refer families to the appropriate school staff.
- Provide information about local housing and basic-needs resources.
- Build relationships with community organizations.
Stabilize
- Explore school-of-origin and transportation rights.
- Help students obtain supplies and other school necessities.
- Reduce avoidable disruptions to learning.
Respect
- Protect privacy.
- Avoid stigmatizing language.
- Listen to students and families.
- Treat students experiencing housing insecurity with the same dignity and academic expectations as their peers.
What Families Should Know
Parents and students who are experiencing unstable housing should not assume that they have to solve school-related problems alone.
If a family is staying temporarily with friends or relatives because it lost housing, living in a motel, staying in a shelter or facing another qualifying situation, it can be worth contacting the school and asking about McKinney-Vento assistance.
Families can ask for the school’s McKinney-Vento liaison or homeless education contact.
Eligibility and available services can vary by situation and jurisdiction, so the school or district should make the formal determination.
The most important point is that a housing crisis does not automatically eliminate a student’s right to an education.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can schools support students facing housing insecurity?
Schools can support students by identifying housing instability early, providing information about McKinney-Vento rights, helping with enrollment and transportation, maintaining educational stability and connecting families with community resources.
2. What is considered homelessness for students?
Under McKinney-Vento, homelessness generally includes lacking a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. This can include living in a shelter, motel, car, other unsuitable location or temporarily staying with others because of loss of housing or economic hardship.
3. Can a homeless student stay in their original school?
In many qualifying situations, students have the right to continue attending their school of origin when that is in the student’s best interest and consistent with McKinney-Vento requirements. Transportation may also be provided.
4. Can a student enroll without proof of residency?
Eligible students experiencing homelessness can generally enroll immediately even if they lack documents normally required for enrollment. Schools must follow the applicable McKinney-Vento procedures.
5. What should a teacher do if they think a student is homeless?
A teacher should avoid making assumptions or publicly questioning the student. Instead, the teacher can privately contact the appropriate school counselor, social worker or McKinney-Vento liaison and follow the school’s established procedures.
6. How many U.S. students experience homelessness?
More than 1.5 million PreK–12 students were identified as experiencing homelessness in the 2023–24 school year, according to federal education data. Because identification is required before students can receive many services, researchers caution that official counts may not capture every student experiencing homelessness.
7. Does housing insecurity only affect students who sleep on the street?
No. Student homelessness can be hidden. A student may be living temporarily with relatives or friends, staying in a motel, living in a shelter or sleeping in a vehicle. These situations can fall under the federal McKinney-Vento definition.
8. Where can families get help?
Families should start by contacting their child’s school and asking for the McKinney-Vento liaison or homeless education coordinator. The school can explain eligibility, enrollment rights, transportation options and available local services.
