Homelessness for Children in the US Some Startling Statistics

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Homelessness for Children in the US
Some Startling Statistics

  • The United States has the largest number of homeless women and children of any industrialized nation
  • The statistics below are the best estimates of the extent of homelessness, but it is important to note that they are undercounts.

Startling Numbers

  • 1 in 50 children in the US are homeless.
  • On any give day, 200,000 children have no place to live.
  • Homeless families comprise 34% of the homeless population.
  • Almost 40% of the entire homeless population is under 18.
  • 42% of these homeless children are younger than 6

Health Problems Due to Homelessness

  • Homeless children are sick four times more often than other children.
    • Four times as many respiratory infections.
    • Twice as many ear infections.
    • Five times more gastrointestinal problems.
    • Four times more likely to have asthma.
    • Go hungry at twice the rate of other children. 57% of homeless kids spend at least one day every month without food.
    • Have high rates of obesity due to nutritional deficiencies
    • Have three times the rate of emotional and behavioral problems compared to non-homeless children

Experiences of Violence

  • By age 12, 83% had been exposed to at least one serious violent event.
  • Almost 25% have witnessed acts of violence within their families.

Educational and Developmental Issues
Children experiencing homelessness are:

  • Four times more likely to show delayed development.
  • Twice as likely to have learning disabilities as non-homeless children.
  • At least 20 % of homeless children are unable to attend school.
  • Within a year, 41% will attend two different schools and 28% will attend three or more schools and each change sets them back 4-6 months.
  • Of homeless children in grades 3-12, only 48% were proficient in reading and only 43% were proficient in math.
  • 36% of homeless children repeat a grade
  • Approximately 1.16 million of homeless children today will not graduate from high school.

Facts are gathered from National Center on Family Homelessness, Coalition for the Homeless, and the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth.