A report published in November by the nonprofit organization Advocates for Children of New York revealed that one in eight New York City public school students were homeless during the 2023 to 2024 school year. Homelessness is a serious issue, especially in the case of youth and students, and programs that provide aid to students in temporary housing need to increase their support.

The report specified that over 146,000 students lacked permanent housing in the past year, a 23% increase from the 2022 to 2023 school year. Of these students, 41% lived in City shelters, 54% “doubled up” by sharing temporary housing with others and 5% lived in hotels or motels, remained unsheltered or lacked adequate nighttime residence.

This year was the ninth consecutive year in which over 100, 000 NYC public school students experienced homelessness. While factors like population increases and migrant influx can contribute to this, they do not account for the initial problems that have impacted student homelessness rates for nearly a decade.

The NYC Department of Education specifies that students in temporary housing have the right to a free public education, as well as transportation to either their current school or a zoned school in the area of their housing. A student’s eligibility for these services is determined by filling out the DOE’s Housing Questionnaire and delivering it to their school.

According to their mission statement, AFC also works “to ensure a high-quality education for New York students who face barriers to academic success.” Through its site, it offers digital guides and tips to inform students and parents about their rights and opportunities, and hosts trainings and workshops to provide parents with the knowledge to advocate for their children.

While this work is important, the lack of adequate services in place throughout NYC to aid families in securing permanent housing only prolongs the issues of student homelessness.

Alongside academic responsibilities, students face additional, unwarranted pressure when confronted with the instability of temporary housing situations. While current programs offer resources to support these students in their education, additional services and programs focused on improving their housing situations are necessary to combat the problem.