Nationwide More Children Live in the State of Homelessness than in Most American States

As children across the nation head back to school, a new data snapshot from the Alliance’s Homelessness Research Institute finds that the number of children experiencing homelessness during the 2021-2022 school year nationwide was greater than the total population of children living in 28 states.

Nearly 1.2 million children were either literally homeless (living in a shelter, or in unsheltered locations such as a car or tent) or doubled-up (sharing housing with friends or family beyond a unit’s designated capacity). The top 5 states with the highest rate of child homelessness were: South Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Oklahoma.

With an increasing cost of living, families cannot afford to maintain housing. More resources need to be dedicated to families at risk of homelessness, so that no child will show up to school homeless. Scaling up programs like Housing Choice Vouchers, the Child Tax Credit, and rental assistance programs are an important first step. When combined with other supports (like childcare, employment assistance, or counseling), these preventative resources can help to prevent and end homelessness for families.