By: Cara Baldari
You need only open a newspaper or visit a few news sites to see the growing public attention on rising homelessness in the United States. Much of this focus is on individuals experiencing homelessness visibly in communities — those sleeping outside in public spaces like sidewalks or parks, exposed to the elements. Lawmakers face increasing political pressure to respond, and policy debates are underway at all levels of government about how to meaningfully reduce homelessness and keep people housed.
Families with children, however, are largely left out of the conversation even though child and family homelessness in the U.S. is growing at an alarming rate. (See our previous blog, “The State of Child and Family Homelessness in the United States,” for more detail.) This raises an important question: why? While the assumption is that people are sympathetic to the plight of children, this has not translated into policy attention – in fact, the opposite is true.
At Family Promise, we see firsthand that the need is great — many of our over 170 sites have long waiting lists and cannot serve all families in their region. Yet awareness remains low, in part because the way that families experience homelessness makes them less visible in their communities.
Most families with children experiencing homelessness are not in shelters or on the street. Parents and caregivers will do everything possible to keep their children off the street, and there aren’t enough family shelters to meet the need. While Family Promise keeps families together, other shelters may require separation, leading some families to avoid seeking help altogether.
As a result, families go wherever they can, often staying temporarily with others or spending their last dime on an overcrowded motel room. Parents may hide their situation – even from trusted individuals like teachers, pediatricians, or clergy – out of fear of child welfare involvement or to avoid stigma.
Though less visible, these situations are often unstable and harmful to children, leaving them without safe or quiet places to sleep, study, or play. Infants and toddlers without a safe sleep environment are at increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and children in crowded housing are at much higher risk of premature mortality. In desperate circumstances, families may remain in dangerous or exploitative situations.
Research shows that homelessness negatively impacts children regardless of where they sleep. Analysis from SchoolHouse Connection of a 2019 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study shows that high school students experiencing homelessness face increased risks of assault, suicide, substance abuse, hunger, and bullying whether they are in living in cars, motels, staying with others, or in shelters. Additional studies from California, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Washington state show that children staying in motels or doubled-up situations face comparable or worse educational outcomes than those in shelters or unsheltered.
All families experiencing homelessness are often forced to move frequently between temporary situations. Frequent moves create constant instability, leading to anxiety and disrupted routines. Experts say children thrive on consistency – regular sleep, relationships, and routines are critical for healthy development. Unsurprisingly, highly mobile students tend to perform worse academically.
In “There is Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America,” author and journalist Brian Goldstone describes families who are part of the nation’s “hidden homeless.” These working families, displaced by gentrification and rising costs, often end up in extended-stay motels due to lack of alternatives – highlighting that visible homelessness is only part of a much larger issue.
Because these families are less visible, they are often overlooked in policy and data and fall through the cracks for federal assistance. They are not eligible for emergency rental assistance as they do not have a lease, but they also do not meet U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s narrow definition of homelessness. They often do not appear in HUD’s homeless counts or data system, making themn ineligible for key programs funded by Homeless Assistance Grants, the largest source of federal support.
Ignoring child homelessness is short-sighted. Many adults experiencing homelessness were first homeless as children. Addressing the issue now can help break the cycle for future generations. A critical first step is urging federal lawmakers to support the bipartisan Homeless Children and Youth Act (S. 1667/H.R. 6403), which would help communities identify and assist families so they can access stable housing services.
Stay tuned for the release of Family Promise’s 2026 policy platform for additional solutions and tools to prevent and end homelessness for children and families. We hope you will join us in advocating and taking action to ensure families with children are prioritized alongside other populations experiencing homelessness.
