Housing squeeze leaves low-income students on the streets
(Wash.) The number of homeless youth in Washington is on the upswing and correlates with an increase in reports of child abuse or neglect in the state, according to recent data.
More than 35,000 students have been identified as homeless, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction said in a report released late last month. That represents a 9 percent increase from 2013, and an almost 63 percent increase since 2009.
Between 2009 and 2014, reports of child abuse or neglect to the Washington Children’s Administration increased 22 percent. Child Protective Services received approximately 90,000 unique reports of child abuse in 2014.
“Many kids who are on the streets are actually running away from something, and it’s not a choice for them as much as it is a necessity,” said Scott Hanauer, CEO of Community Youth Services, an Olympia-based advocacy organization for at-risk youth. “Many of our youth, anecdotally, tell us that it is safer being homeless than it is being where they ran from.”
Hanauer cited instances of physical, emotional or sexual abuse and domestic violence as some of the more common reasons students may run away from home. Others are kicked out for being lesbian, gay bisexual or transgender.
Under the federal McKinney-Vento Act, schools must ensure equal access to educational services for homeless students within each district. Funds are allocated to states to defray the cost of transportation, subsidized meals, tutoring or supplies and other resources for homeless youth.
Washington receives approximately $950,000 each year, which is distributed to districts through Housing squeeze leaves low-income students on the streets :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet: