Homeless Children and Adolescents, Education of

Families with children, as well as unaccompanied children, comprise a large percentage of those who are considered homeless in the United States. The changing face of the homeless has shifted from an unemployed adult without a family to working families who simply cannot afford to pay for housing on their incomes. These families keep up with their housing payments as long as they can, but when unexpected financial hardships arise (loss of job, unforeseen medical costs, car accidents, and so on) and the family cannot make their housing payment, the result is loss of housing.

Homeless children have consistently displayed academic and emotional problems, as well as poor social skills. In addition to these factors, homeless children are disproportionately at risk for health problems and often ...