About 87,000 New York City school children were living in homeless shelters or temporary housing in the 2013-2014 school year, according to a new report on the latest available figures.
The number has shot up a whopping 71% since 2007-2008, when about 51,000 homeless students attended city schools. In the last year alone, there were about 6,600 more homeless students in the schools, according to the report by the non-profit Institute for Children, Poverty and Homelessness.
City officials said there are now roughly 23,000 homeless children living in shelters, including those who many not be of school age.
The report – using data from the city education department – showed there were homeless students in every school district across the city, including many staying with extended family.
It also revealed that the majority of the youngest students – kindergarten through second grade – were Hispanic.
Jennifer Erb-Downward, a principal policy analyst at the Institute, said that the high cost of housing and a tough economy has forced more city families into homelessness.
“We didn’t end up with a population of homeless students the size of Trenton, N.J. overnight,” said Erb-Downward. “Homeless children have been New York City’s hidden homeless for far too long, and the number has steadily increased for almost a decade.”
Erb-Downward said the majority of students are young, in unstable housing, and in need of early education, child care and after school programming.
And just getting to school is tough for these youngsters – about 38% were chronically absent.
The frequent moves and instability can lead to chronic health problems and stress, the report noted, and those challenges are often reflected in test scores.
Only about 17% of homeless students passed the 3rd-8th grade math exams in the 2013-14 school year, compared with the citywide number of 35.2%.
Education spokesman Jason Fink said the agency is working to increase attendance and academic performance for the city’s homeless kids.
“We offer a range of additional services such as extended learning time, after-school programs and school-based health care,” said Fink. “We also work with community organizations and provide programs designed specifically for students in temporary housing.”
