New York City’s public schools served nearly one in seven students who experienced homelessness during the last school year. A recent report by Advocates for Children of New York highlights a record number of homeless students in the system, totaling 154,000. Jennifer Pringle, Director of AFC’s Learners in Temporary Housing Project, emphasized the scale of the issue by stating, "There are now more students who are homeless in NYC than the entire Dallas public school system," according to Gothamist.
The report describes challenges impacting student attendance due to shelter arrangements and school assignments. Chyann Tull, a spokesperson for the city’s education department, told NY Daily News, "Education is key to breaking the cycle of homelessness." Support efforts include dedicated staff and resources such as food pantries. State test scores show that 22% of students living in shelters demonstrated proficiency in reading and math.
Individual cases, such as Celina Moore, a mother who transferred her autistic son to a different school due to difficult commutes. The advocacy group is calling for a coordinated interagency response and additional state funding to support homeless students. They aim to place children in shelters closer to their schools, address high absenteeism rates, and improve school bus services.
Latoya Iheanacho, who moved between shelters across different boroughs, reported chronic absenteeism among her children. She stated to NY Daily News, "They’re tired, they’re going to sleep in class," describing the effects of housing instability on their education and well-being.
