| children without homes |
effects of homelessness on children's health |
effects of homelessness on children's education |
When we think about people who are experiencing homelessness, we usually think
about adults. The fact is millions of children experience homelessness every
year. These children sleep in cars, shelters and abandoned buildings. They
relocate constantly, which results in their being pulled out of school and away
from friends. Every child deserves to live and grow in a safe, secure
Incomes and Homelessness
Homelessness is fundamentally a symptom of poverty. Individuals and
families without adequate incomes and social supports sufficient to satisfy
basic needs may indeed find themselves without a regular place to stay. Though
unemployment has fallen to a national low, recent studies indicate that the
fastest growing jobs, primarily in the service sector, pay below even modest
calculations of the cost of living. Related studies show that the strong economy
has merely widened the gap between the very rich and the very poor, with the
latter actually earning less than they did 20 years ago in many localities.
Forced to make impossible choices between housing, food, clothing, medical care
and transportation, many working individuals and families frequently find
themselves with nowhere to turn but shelters and the streets.
Social supports for the poor have fallen dramatically in recent times. "Welfare
reform" efforts of the past decade have left an increasing number of individuals
and families at risk of homelessness. New time limits and punitive consequences
for "non-compliance" with welfare guidelines result in the sudden elimination or
gradual erosion of social support. Single adults, by far the majority of clients
at Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) projects, frequently lack access to
federal income and medical supports. Instead, they rely on various state-only
programs, which have been retracted or eliminated in most states over the past
decade. Federal and state programs for persons with disabilities—including
addiction and mental illness—have faced similar retractions.
Some Facts About Families and Children Who Are
• Families are now the fastest growing segment of the homeless population and
account for almost 40 percent of the nation’s homeless. On any given night,
1.2 million children are homeless.
• Most children become homeless because their mothers and fathers are unable
to find affordable housing. Traumatic events such as unemployment, illness,
accidents, or violence and abuse further limit their ability to secure decent
• The average homeless family is composed of a young, single mother and two
children under the age of six.
Children between the ages of six and 17 years old who are homeless struggle
with high rates of mental health problems.
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Effects of Homelessness on Children’s Health
Children who are
homeless are more likely than their housed peers to suffer from a wide
variety of medical problems.
Which Homeless Children are
More Likely to Experience Medical Problems
Poor health for
homeless children begins at birth; they are more likely to have low birth
rates and are four times more likely than other children to need special care
right after birth. Their numerous health problems impair their development. Poor
nutrition and poverty exacerbate illness and disability. Homeless children are
more likely than housed children to suffer from chronic illnesses such as
cardiac disease, neurological disorders, and asthma. Children without a home
are in fair or poor health twice as often as other children, and have higher
rates of ear infections and lead levels. They are twice as likely to experience
hunger, four times as likely to have asthma, respiratory infections and delayed
development, five times as likely to suffer from intestinal infections, and six
times as likely to experience speech and stuttering problems. In one study,
twenty seven percent had never seen a dentist.
Homeless children suffer from a lack of consistent, preventative health care.
Twice as many homeless children compared with equally poor, but housed children,
had been hospitalized in the prior year. They experienced delays in routine
screening and immunizations. Homeless parents are more likely to go to emergency
rooms or call 911 to obtain medical care for their ill children regardless of
the seriousness of their symptoms, rather than have a regular primary care
Homeless children also experience more mental health problems, such as
anxiety, depression, withdrawal, and inappropriate behavior. One study found
that approximately one third had made suicide attempts. Other research found
that one third had at least one major mental illness that interfered with
their daily living, compared to 19% of other school age children; that 47%
have problems such as anxiety, depression, or withdrawal compared to 18% of
other school age children and 30% manifest delinquent or aggressive behavior,
compared to 17% of other school age children. Homeless children were
significantly more socially isolated than their housed peers.
And, between younger and older homeless children, a study in Worcester,
Massachusetts found a significant decrease in developmental, interpersonal, and
cognitive functioning which the research authors postulate may be due to the
cumulative effects of the many risk factors these children face.
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Effects of Homelessness on Children’s Education
children are more likely to face hurdles in their education than their
Percentages by Which Homeless Children are
More Likely to Experience Educational Setbacks
Homeless Preschool Children and Education
Despite the proven benefits of preschool education, only 15% of preschool
children identified as homeless by the U. S. Department of Education were
enrolled in preschool programs in 2000. In comparison, 57% of low-income
preschool children participated in preschool. While all children have been shown
to benefit from high quality preschool education, research attests to the
greater benefit of preschool for poor children, and especially for preschoolers
who are homeless. In a North Carolina study, two groups of low-income children,
one placed in early education programs, were followed from infancy to the age of
21. The study showed the academic and developmental benefits of early education,
including increased IQ by age 12, lower grade retention rates, higher reading
and math scores, and decreased use of special education services. Other studies
point to a significantly higher rate of high school completion, lower school
dropout rate, and lower rates of juvenile arrest.
Who Experience Educational Setbacks
Homelessness as Barrier to Children’s Success in
As a result of
frequent moves and educational and social disruptions, all homeless children
face significant developmental hurdles. While homelessness puts children of
every age at increased risk of medical and psychiatric problems such as
asthma, anxiety, and depression, school age children face unique problems
related to enrolling and attending school. Among the barriers to school
attendance and success are transportation problems, residency requirements, an
inability to obtain previous school records, and lack of clothing and school
supplies. According to the U.S. Department of Education, transportation to
and from school, as well as to and from before- and after-school activities,
remains the biggest barrier for homeless children.
Domestic violence, natural disasters, evictions and unstable living situations
can make it impossible for parents to retain educational records. As a result,
many districts still turn children away from a new school until these issues are
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of Child Poverty
Living in poverty
also has a consequence of lack of food for children which cause to death.
The worst disease in the world leave very big
consequence on poor children's life.