New Interactive Data Profiles Reveal Stark Realities of Child and Youth Homelessness in the United States

A groundbreaking collaboration between SchoolHouse Connection and the University of Michigan's Poverty Solutions has unveiled detailed interactive data profiles that comprehensively examine child and youth homelessness across the United States, shedding critical light on an often-overlooked social issue.

The newly released data profiles analyze federal information spanning four years, providing an unprecedented view into the educational challenges faced by students experiencing homelessness. The interactive dashboard allows users to explore homelessness trends across multiple geographic levels, from national and state perspectives to local communities, Congressional districts, and state legislative districts.

One of the most significant features of these data profiles is their ability to help school districts assess potential under-identification of students experiencing homelessness. The profiles highlight districts categorized as "severely underfunded" - those that have identified homeless students but do not receive McKinney-Vento subgrants to support these vulnerable populations.

Barbara Duffield, Executive Director of SchoolHouse Connection, emphasized the importance of the data, stating that child and youth homelessness remains largely invisible in communities and schools. The profiles aim to illuminate these students' experiences and demonstrate the profound impact of homelessness on school attendance and academic achievement.

Jennifer Erb-Downward from Poverty Solutions stressed the critical nature of making this information accessible to decision-makers at local, state, and national levels. By providing clear, comprehensive data, the profiles can potentially inform policy decisions and drive targeted interventions.

The data profiles offer comparative insights into educational outcomes, allowing users to examine critical indicators such as chronic absenteeism and graduation rates between homeless students and their housed peers. These comparisons underscore the significant educational challenges faced by students experiencing housing instability.

To further support understanding and utilization of these data profiles, SchoolHouse Connection and Poverty Solutions hosted a webinar demonstrating the dashboard's features and discussing key findings. The webinar aimed to help participants navigate the interactive tool, interpret data trends, and use the information to inform local and state policy strategies.

These comprehensive data profiles represent a crucial step in understanding and addressing the complex issue of child and youth homelessness, offering researchers, policymakers, and educators a powerful tool for developing targeted, evidence-based interventions.