For the last five years, the California Department of Education (CDE) has reported a steady increase in homeless K-12 students in the state1. In the academic year 2018-2019, over 207,000 California K-12 students were without appropriate, consistent and stable housing2. Unhoused K-12 students are disproportionately LGBTQ+, migrants, students of color, and students with disabilities, exacerbating existing inequities. Homlessness among young people has also been shown to negatively impact both immediate educational performance and long-term outcomes.

The existing homelessness system of care fails to respond effectively to the scale and scope of this problem. Stigma, lack of funding, unclear eligibility criteria, and disjointed coordination impede youth access to housing opportunities and associated services. As a result, there is an immediate need for additional resources and programmatic restructuring at both the state and federal levels to offer unhoused K-12 youth the support they need to thrive.