140,000 N.Y.C. Students Are Homeless. Can the Next Mayor Change That?
Key Takeaways
- The affordable housing crisis is directly linked to and exacerbating the U.S. education crisis.
- Homeless students face severe challenges, including exhaustion, hunger, and falling behind in school, trapping them in a cycle of poverty.
- Over 1.3 million students in the U.S. are identified as homeless, with New York City having one of the highest rates (over 15% of students).
- The lack of stable housing leads to grave consequences, including increased absenteeism and, tragically, fatalities in some cases.
- Advocacy groups and experts stress that addressing the housing shortage must be the top priority for city administrations to protect vulnerable children.
The severe lack of affordable housing in the U.S. is fueling a significant education crisis, exemplified by the daily struggles of families like Latoya Iheanacho's, who faced grueling commutes and survival mode while trying to keep her children in school. Nationally, over 1.3 million students are considered homeless, a figure likely underestimated, leading to dismal educational outcomes, chronic absenteeism, and a high risk of future homelessness. New York City faces the worst housing crunch in five decades, with over 140,000 children lacking stable housing, a population larger than the entire Dallas public school system. While Mayor Eric Adams has implemented some support measures, advocacy groups argue that ensuring housing for all should be the top priority. The growing number of homeless children, who are the most vulnerable victims of the housing insecurity, remains a pressing issue largely overshadowed in political debates.
