How Pandemic Relief Funding Supported Students Experiencing Homelessness

Alexandria, VA —The number of students experiencing homelessness increased by 25 percent between the 2020–21 and 2022–23 school years. Congress responded by adding an extra infusion of $800 million in American Rescue Plan–Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) funds to states’ existing funding levels for eligible programs. A new NASBE analysis explores the impact of this funding and how some states are sustaining progress.

According to the analysis, when paired with state guidance, technical assistance, and regional partnerships, ARP-HCY dollars helped improve student outcomes through increased identification of students experiencing homelessness, reduced chronic absenteeism, and higher graduation rates. As spending winds down, state leaders can assess the impact of these supplemental funds to make better informed decisions going forward, says NASBE’s Shyla Lensing.

Despite this unprecedented allocation of federal funding for student experiencing homelessness, many states struggled to fully use these funds, and not all districts could readily access them. However, several states have taken steps to sustain effective programs.

• Washington’s Homeless Student Stability Program offers grants to districts and nonprofits to identify students experiencing homelessness, coordinate services, and provide housing assistance.
• California has launched Homeless Innovative Program Toolkits to highlight promising practices from districts that used relief funding creatively.
• Maine’s Help Maine Students Avoid Homelessness pilot provides emergency financial assistance to the families of students experiencing homelessness.

The analysis also offers state boards of education key questions to help drive improvements in programs serving students in unstable housing and ensure effective implementation.

“A student experiencing homelessness is not failing,” said Rachel White, deputy director of youth advocacy at DC Action. “It’s the system that is failing them. But that is something we can change. Together we can ensure that every young person—regardless of housing status—has a real chance to learn, to graduate, and to thrive.”

Read “Gauging the Impact of Funds for Students Experiencing Homelessness.”

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