Somewhere in California, an elementary school student finishes a long day at school, only to realize that they do not have a home to return to. Often an overlooked issue, this unfortunate reality grows more common by the second.
Over the past year, the number of homeless students in California has increased by 9.3%. As a result, California now faces the unique dilemma of identifying how to provide resources to homeless students and which initiatives — from local policy to government grants — will prove the most effective.
The homeless population in California
According to the California Budget Center, approximately 20% of the state’s homeless population are youth members or families with children. Among adults without children, 40% are over the age of 50, and many live with disabilities. Black, Native and Pacific Islander communities are disproportionately affected, and nearly half of California’s unhoused residents live in Los Angeles.
Addressing these disparities requires understanding their root causes. A report from the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research identifies housing affordability and availability, a lack of transitional housing and untreated addiction and mental illness as primary drivers. While lawmakers aim to expand affordable housing, costs continue to climb and transitional options are being phased out. Meanwhile, access to addiction treatment and mental health services remain limited and unaffordable for many.
Challenges faced by unhoused students
Unhoused students occupy a critical space in the fight against generational poverty. Their age positions them for long-term educational opportunity – a key pathway to social mobility. Research published in the Journal of Vocational Behavior reveals that academic performance strongly correlates with future career outcomes, reinforcing education as a powerful investment for individuals and society.
But homelessness often disrupts that trajectory. According to the Learning Policy Institute, students experiencing homelessness are more likely to be chronically absent and less likely to graduate high school — outcomes that increase the risk of experiencing homelessness again in adulthood.
What is the current policy?
Targeted policy for homeless students remains limited, worsening the issue.
Under the federal McKinney-Vento Act, school districts must ensure unhoused students have equal access to free public education. But the law doesn’t provide direct funding unless they apply for a competitive sub-grant — leaving many without adequate resources.
California supplements these efforts by offering Reservation Funds for Homeless Education and requiring schools to provide free transportation. Still, rising numbers of unhoused and underserved students suggest that current legislation falls short.
What can schools do?
Because education is primarily a state and local responsibility, most effective initiatives operate on smaller, community-based scales.
Barbara Duffield, the executive director of SchoolHouse Connection, emphasized the unique position of schools to support homeless students: “Schools, because children are their clients, can hone in on children as people.” This includes empathetic practices like stocking extra school supplies, offering flexible attendance policies, and being responsive to individual student needs.
Some states, such as Colorado, go further by providing families with motel and food vouchers and coordinating with housing agencies to locate shelter. In Los Angeles, the Unified School District’s Homeless Education Office similarly partners with community organizations to reduce barriers and connect families with essential services.
So what happens now?
Despite its urgency, student homelessness remains a low priority on California’s broader policy agenda. As a result, major legislative action has stalled. Still, coordinated efforts from school districts, non-profits and advocacy groups offer a path forward – one where local governments can lead meaningful change from the ground up.
