Los Angeles – Providing a comprehensive analysis of homelessness among students in California, the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools today released new research detailing the challenges facing hundreds of thousands of homeless students and the education agencies and community organizations that serve them.
According to the report, State of Crisis, Dismantling of Student Homelessness in California, analysis of data from the California Department of Education shows that 269,269 K-12 students in California experienced homelessness in 2018-2019. Large numbers of California’s college students are also struggling with homelessness. The number of students experiencing homelessness in the state has increased by nearly 50 percent in the past decade. Given the disruption and economic fallout of COVID-19, the report’s authors contend the number of students experiencing homelessness is likely higher.
“Dodger Stadium is empty these days, but can hold some 56,000 people for a big game. California could fill the stadium with students experiencing homelessness almost five times and still probably need to use the parking lot for overflow,” said Joseph Bishop, director of the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools and lead author of the report. “But our students are not in Dodger Stadium. We are talking about young people who may be sleeping on the streets, in cars or in shelters. This is a crisis that deserves immediate action.”
Center for the Transformation of Schools
For media coverage of “State of Crisis: Dismantling of Student Homelessness in California,” visit these links:
Los Angeles Daily News, Oct. 20, 2020
Fox 11 Los Angeles, Oct. 20, 2020
ABC 7 Eyewitness News, Oct. 20, 2020
NBC Los Angeles, Oct. 20, 2020