Exploration of Policy Impact for Unhoused Students - Definition and Measurement Impact on Child Wellbeing

Full Description: One of the basic physiological needs in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, is shelter for sleep. According to federal legislation, homeless students include those who lack access to a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. This definition includes students who live in hotels or motels, shelters, shared housing, and unsheltered places such as parks, abandoned buildings, and cars. In the United States, 1.5 million students experience homelessness, a value that has increased dramatically in the last several years. More specifically, homelessness currently impacts 2.1 percent of Texas schoolchildren, amounting to over 112,000 students. The challenges that homeless students experience outside of the classroom, in addition to sleep security, include food insecurity, limited access to healthcare, and delays in social and emotional development, all of which inevitably affect their academic performance. The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced these challenges or exacerbated circumstances for many students and their families.

The experiences of homeless youths are complex and varied, and the definitions of homelessness differ from state to state, even from district to district, leading to diverse policies and distribution of resources to support this vulnerable population. Policy efforts must also work to prevent homelessness among students and effectively educate teachers and staff in schools to identify risk factors. The purpose of this study is to examine and compare the methods by which various institutions have defined homelessness at the state and federal level, as well as evaluate their effectiveness in addressing the needs of and allocating resources to the unhoused populations in their communities.

Abbreviated Description: The experiences of homeless youths are complex and varied, and the definitions of homelessness differ from state to state, even from district to district, leading to diverse policies and distribution of resources to support this vulnerable population. Policy efforts must also work to prevent homelessness among students and effectively educate teachers and staff in schools to identify risk factors. The purpose of this study is to examine and compare the methods by which various institutions have defined homelessness at the state and federal level, as well as evaluate their effectiveness in addressing the needs of and allocating resources to the unhoused populations in their communities.