The Truth About Childhood Homelessness
Schoolutions: Curious Educators. Evidence-Based Strategies. Classrooms Where Every Child Thrives.
03/11/26
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This clip with Erin Patterson of SchoolHouse Connection explores the often-overlooked reality of childhood homelessness, particularly for families with children. We learn that many children experiencing homelessness are having to "double up" with others, making them part of the invisible people in our communities.
These real-life stories shed light on how economic inequality contributes to the challenges faced by children experiencing homelessness.
Housing instability is one of the biggest hidden drivers of low engagement, classroom behavior challenges, and student motivation struggles. The whole child can't thrive when they don't know where they're sleeping tonight.
This is what equity in education and a pro-kid mindset actually look like in practice, when we see the full picture of a child's life.
Save this. Share it with your school administrators, instructional leaders, and fellow teachers.
👇 Watch, reflect, and share Part 1 & Part Two of our @schoolutionspodcast S5E28 interview with your team. 🚀📚 .
📚 CHAPTERS
0:00 – What most people picture when they hear "homeless"
0:10 – The shocking 80% statistic
0:25 – Motel hopping & the doubled-up reality
0:45 – What this means for students in your classroom
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
📧 Connect with me at https://www.oliviawahl.com/coaching-consulting if you’d like a thought partner to help you cultivate curious learners who advocate for what they believe in.
🎵 Music: Benjamin Wahl
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💬SHARE with fellow educators! https://www.youtube.com/@schoolutionspodcast/
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When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Previous Episode
In part 1 of this powerful S5E28 @schoolutionspodcast conversation, Erin Patterson, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at SchoolHouse Connection, pulls back the curtain on what homelessness in America truly looks like for children experiencing it. This conversation reveals how often the reality of a family experiencing homelessness is hidden, challenging common perceptions about critical social issues.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- Why 80% of homeless students are "invisible" — and how that affects classroom behavior and student engagement
- How housing instability shows up as fatigue, anxiety, and absenteeism (and what that means for effective teaching)
- The data gap between HUD's definition of homelessness and what schools actually see
- Why babies (yes, infants) are the age group most at risk of eviction
- How a pro-kid mindset and the right education strategies can be a lifeline
- The single resource Erin recommends for caregivers and educators who want to take action
- Why transportation is the #1 unfunded need in this space
Resources mentioned:
➡️Sara Shaw
➡️Harvard Center on the Developing Child
➡️Point-in-Time (PIT) Count
➡️HUD definition of homelessness
➡️McKinney-Vento Act
➡️Voices of Youth
Don't miss Part 2 when Erin takes us inside Congress to break down the legislative wins for children experiencing homelessness and how YOU can be part of the change.
📑 CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction: What Hidden Homelessness Really Looks Like
1:45 Meet Erin Patterson & SchoolHouse Connection
2:00 Key Research: Harvard Center on the Developing Child
3:30 Sara Shaw: The Nation's Leading Data Expert on Child Homelessness
4:30 What Homelessness Actually Looks Like for Families with Children
6:00 Why Children Experiencing Homelessness Are Invisible in Shelters
7:00 The Data Gap: HUD vs. Education Law Definitions
8:00 The Point-in-Time Count Problem
8:45 Washington DC: 9-10% of Infants & Toddlers Are Homeless
9:45 Why Children Can't Learn Without Stable Housing
10:30 Erin's Journey: From Teacher to Advocate
12:15 "The Classroom Showed Me the Symptoms"
13:00 Lightning Round: Hardest Part of the Job
14:00 The #1 Misconception About Child Homelessness
14:45 If You Had Unlimited Funding: Transportation
15:45 Best Resource for Educators & Caregivers
16:30 Preview: Part 2 — Inside Congress with SchoolHouse Connection
📧 Connect with me as a thought partner!
🎵 Music: Benjamin Wahl
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Next Episode
In Part 2 of my @schoolutionspodcast conversation, Erin Patterson from SchoolHouse Connection returns to detail legislative wins for families experiencing homelessness, showcasing how advocacy works amid federal budget cuts.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- How $129 million in homeless education funding was zeroed out in the President's FY26 budget, and how SchoolHouse Connection got it restored through nonpartisan grassroots advocacy
- What the McKinney-Vento Act actually guarantees for homeless students
- The Homeless Children and Youth Act: the signature legislation that would align federal definitions so families in motels and doubled-up housing finally qualify for housing assistance
- How the Thrive from the Start Coalition is mobilizing state-level action on infant and toddler homelessness, and why 48 states applied for just 10 grants
Mentions:
➡️Barbara Duffield
➡️Thomas J. Lucas (TJ)
➡️Thrive from the Start Coalition
➡️Advocacy Page
➡️Federal Policy Tracker
➡️Homeless Children and Youth Data Map
➡️McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
➡️Every Student Succeeds Act
➡️Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program
➡️Homeless Children and Youth Act
➡️Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
➡️Resources for Homeless Education Liaisons
🎧 Watch Part I! Erin paints the full picture of what hidden homelessness looks like for children across America.
CHAPTERS
0:00 When the Budget Shows a Zero
1:45 FY26 Budget & Homeless Education
6:00 $129 Million Restored
7:30 McKinney-Vento Explained
10:00 Undocumented & Homeless
11:45 Dedicated Funding vs. Block Grants
13:00 Thrive from the Start
15:15 Homeless Children & Youth Act
16:30 How to Get Involved
Next Week: Dr. Kris Nystrom left retirement to tackle the world's lowest literacy rates in sub-Saharan Africa, one community at a time. This one will change how you see what's at stake when a child can't read.
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
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