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Family homelessness has been increasing over the past decade in the Boston area and in Massachusetts. Between 1992 and 2002, the number of children in shelters increased by 71% to 1,367. Statewide, it was estimated in 1999 that over 20,000 children were homeless. It was also estimated in 2000 that about 4,500 teen parents are homeless, and there is a growing uncounted population of teens living on their own: on the street, in cars or tents, or doubled up with friends.
Homelessness is defined broadly by the McKinney-Vento Act. School-age children are considered homeless if they live in any of the following circumstances: in a shelter, motel, vehicle or campground; on the street; in an abandoned building or trailer; in substandard housing; doubled-up with friends or relatives due to loss of housing or economic hardship; or in a temporary home awaiting foster care.
These children are among our most vulnerable: they often live in unhealthy conditions, have poor nutrition, have little or no access to preventive medical care, face the instability of constantly moving or being evicted, and, in too many cases, experience the trauma from witnessing violence within the family. In short, being uprooted can wreak havoc on their physical and mental well-being. The impact on their educational experience is equally devastating. Homelessness leads to frequent changing of schools, inability to get to school without transportation, and enrollment delays because of paperwork. As a result, many homeless children can be out of school for long stretches at a time, or face the uphill struggle of having to adjust to new teachers, classmates and curricula multiple times in the course of a year. It should come as no surprise that it takes a child four to six months to recover academically after changing schools. These children, and especially those suffering from the traumatic impacts of witnessing domestic violence, are prime candidates for eventual dropping out of school because of serious behavior and learning problems or because they fall hopelessly behind in their schoolwork.
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