Influences of Family, Culture, and Society in Early Childhood (EDUC - 8853 - 1)

1. Homelessness in tHe United states:
tHe CHildren
Zatambra Jones
doCtor of edUCation Candidate: early CHildHood
dr. Cassandra bosier

2. introdUCtion
Currently in the United States the number of students who
experience homelessness have increased rapidly in urban,
suburban, and rural school districts. Regardless of the critical state,
there is a absence of research of the diverse effects on students.
How best can schools and communities serve our children?

3. area Key Professional & CommUnity
organiZations
 Liberty House of Albany
 Faith Community Outreach Center, Inc.
 United Way
 Goodwill Resource & Job Center
 Boys & Girls Club
 YMCA 21st Century Program
 Department of Housing and Urban Development
Albany Georgia - HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agency

4. ASSuMpTionS vS. FACTS
MYTHS FACTS
Charitable organizations will take care of the homeless. The needs have outgrown the capacity of charitable groups. It
is a societal problem that requires collaborations between
private charities and government, with active public support
(Source: 2014 Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness)
Most homeless people are single men.  Families are the fastest growing population of homeless
 Families with children make up 41% of the homeless
 1 out of 4 homeless people in the US is a child
The majority of Homeless are adults who have made bad
choices and are reaping the consequences.
 The average age of a homeless person is 9 years old.
 In one year 1.35 million children will experience
homelessness
 Georgia ranks 49th out of 50 states in child homelessness.
 60,000 Georgia children experience homelessness each
year.
(Source: Rainbow Village, 2012)
There are no homeless students in my classroom, I do not live
in the big city.
Since the onset of the economic recession, rates of student
homelessness have increased rapidly in urban, suburban, and
rural school districts throughout the United States(Miller,
2011).

5. EFFECTS & inFluEnCES oF
HoMElESSnESS on CHildrEn
 ⅕ of homeless children are separated from their immediate family at
some point
 83% of homeless children are exposed to at least one serious violent
event by the age of 12
 4 times more likely to show delayed development
 2 times more as likely to have learning disabilities
 Experience more serious food insecurity
 A higher proportion of homeless children experience mental disorders
 Experience more disruptive behavior disorders,
 More likely to experience social phobia,
 More likely to have major depression as compared to their low-income
housed counterparts

6. rElATionSHip Building STrATEgiES

7. Fostering resilience in Homeless
cHildren

8. lessons learned
Children who experience homelessness are at a high risk of negative outcomes in
multiple domains, but …
I CAN
Provide them with a sense of belonging
Link them and their families with supports to assist through their experience
Keep in contact with parents or guardians
Know the provisions of the McKinney-Vento Act
Keep in contact with the district liaison
Ensure the student has access to supplies or materials needed for assignments
Assign a buddy
“Create an atmosphere of community in the classroom in which all students’
feelings and situations are accepted and stigmatization is out of the question.”
(Dill, 2010)

9. References
Dill, V. S. (2010). Students without homes. Educational Leadership, 68(3), 43-47.
Kilmer, R. P., Cook, J. R., Crusto, C., Strater, K. P., & Haber, M. G. (2012). Understanding the ecology and
development of children and families experiencing homelessness: implications for practice, supportive services,
and policy. American journal of orthopsychiatry, 82(3), 389.
Masten, AS. Children who overcome adversity to succeed in life. Just in Time Research: Resilient
Communities. 2000. http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/familydevelopment/components/7565_06.html.
Moore, T., & McArthur, M. (2011). ‘Good for kids’: Children who have been homeless talk about school.
Australian Journal of Education, 55(2), 147-160.
National Center for Homeless Education http://www.serve.org/nche

10. References
Dill, V. S. (2010). Students without homes. Educational Leadership, 68(3), 43-47.
Kilmer, R. P., Cook, J. R., Crusto, C., Strater, K. P., & Haber, M. G. (2012). Understanding the ecology and
development of children and families experiencing homelessness: implications for practice, supportive services,
and policy. American journal of orthopsychiatry, 82(3), 389.
Masten, AS. Children who overcome adversity to succeed in life. Just in Time Research: Resilient
Communities. 2000. http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/familydevelopment/components/7565_06.html.
Moore, T., & McArthur, M. (2011). ‘Good for kids’: Children who have been homeless talk about school.
Australian Journal of Education, 55(2), 147-160.
National Center for Homeless Education http://www.serve.org/nche