Homelessness among children in the United States is a growing problem. Children are particularly vulnerable in view of the fact that many run away from their homes to escape conflict and abuse. Poverty, economic challenges, and systemic obstacles add to the challenges minors face with regard to access to shelter. The lack of housing is immensely detrimental to children, who face an increased risk of developmental challenges. The deleterious effects associated with inadequate housing have been compounded further by the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated economic downturn. The experience of homelessness among children compounds developmental challenges that can be mitigated through the implementation of comprehensive and context-based interventions.
Causes of Homelessness
Homelessness among children is a serious problem in the United States. It is estimated that between 10 and 17 million children live in poverty in the United States (Madrick). The National Center for Homeless Education estimated that more than 1.3 million children and youth and children between the ages of 5 and 18 years were homeless during the 2016-2017 school year (Gultekin et al. 10). The Department of Housing and Urban Living defines homelessness as the inability to access regular, fixed and adequate nighttime residence (Gultekin et al. 10). There are a variety of individual and structural reasons why families and children experience homelessness. For instance, inadequate supplies of social housing, ineffective welfare systems, parental mental health challenges, breakdowns in relationships, and domestic violence contribute to inadequate housing. (Murran and Brady 1).
Economic factors that cause a spike in housing prices limit access to affordable housing. Rapid urbanization has resulted in difficulties accessing shelter in view of the fact that families must choose between competing interests. It is also worth noting that punitive lease agreements where families are evicted for noise complaints and damage to property have increased the number of children experiencing homelessness.
There are a variety of individual factors that contribute to the high incidence of homelessness among minors. Domestic violence often results in an increase in the number of runaway children who are escaping emotional and physical abuse. It is vital to note that a majority of women experiencing homelessness often run away with their children. Parental mental health challenges may aggravate domestic violence and increase the degree of negligence that minors experience. Affected children leave their homes in search of food and security, as well as an opportunity for a decent life.
Effects of Homelessness
Housing stability and safety are more often than not associated with specific health outcomes. The lack of affordable housing is associated with deleterious health consequences (Gultekin et al. 10). It is also worth noting that the loss of affordable housing is associated with the loss of possessions and alterations in family or friend relationships. The aforementioned challenges are particularly detrimental for children who are experiencing growth and developmental changes. The affected individual’s ability to attain milestones, learn social roles and develop relationships outside the family construct may be negatively affected. It is vital to note that homeless children face significant health risks in addition to lower educational and social outcomes compared to their housed peers.
The lack of adequate housing exposes children to a variety of deleterious conditions. Evidence indicates that affected individuals experience high rates of malnutrition, elevated blood lead levels, vaccine-preventable illnesses, obesity, and asthma (Gultekin et al. 10). In addition, the poverty associated with homelessness is a significant contributor to the increased morbidity and mortality seen in the population in question. Researchers have also found an association between the lack of housing and the high incidence of emotional and behavioral challenges among children (Gultekin et al. 11).
Studies also demonstrate the fact that homeless school-age children are 2 to 4 times more likely to experience mental health challenges compared to poor children with stable housing (Gultekin et al. 11). The aforementioned challenges are compounded by the lack of mental health services.
Children experiencing homelessness are also at a higher risk of experiencing traumatic childhood experiences such as victimization, trauma, and neglect. In addition, they experience toxic stress that facilitates the development of chronic health conditions as well as chronic homelessness in their adult lives (Gultekin et al. 11). Children and youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer stand a high risk of facing victimization and engagement in risky health behaviors. Homelessness impacts the well-being, education, and health of many children across the United States.
Food insecurity affects a significant number of children in the United States. It is defined as the expression of anxiety regarding having adequate resources to acquire the type and quantity of food required for an active and normal life (Lee and Lippert 1116). A study of homeless children in Minneapolis demonstrated that 55% of the children in the shelters did not have adequate food and 25% went to bed hungry (Lee and Lippert 1120). Food is vital for normal growth and development in children. Limited access to necessary nutrients impeded normal development while increasing the risk of developing adverse health conditions.
Solutions
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with numerous economic challenges have amplified the deleterious effects of homelessness on children. The U.S. Department of Urban Housing and Development has implemented a variety of measures to help address the problem. However, the organization prioritizes the same populations, uses the same methods of assistance, and largely ignores families and children (Duffield 294).
The solution to childhood homelessness lies in the design of a system that recognizes the exact mechanisms that define the experience of homelessness among children and families. It is vital to building on community-based systems and agencies that are equipped and capable of meeting the target population’s needs. It is vital to craft solutions that are geared towards clear long-term goals in which affected individuals become economically independent and healthy.
It is worth considering the fact that current homelessness services were not designed to address children’s needs. For instance, housing replacement and rapid rehousing fail to address the transportation or childcare needs of affected families (Duffield 300). Challenges abound when child homelessness is reduced to a housing problem. The provision of affordable housing and housing assistance does not comprehensively address the challenges affected individuals face. The most effective way of addressing homelessness among children is to create child-focused systems.
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) must prioritize the implementation of programs designed to address children’s needs. The Child Care and Development Fund and Head Start programs prioritize the enrolment of homeless children. The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act program has made significant strides in addressing the needs of homeless children and youth (Duffield 304). It is important that interventions that are designed to address homelessness in children address transitional living in addition to other forms of housing-related assistance.
Programs designed to address the needs of children must provide comprehensive educational support. Public schools are effective first responders to the childhood homelessness problem in view of the fact that education is compulsory and federal laws protecting children experiencing homelessness are particularly strong. The fact that public schools exist in almost all communities in the United States makes them uniquely placed to address the needs of homeless individuals. The institutions offer the education that is ultimately required to help the children escape homelessness and poverty permanently.
The United States has in excess of 18000 local education agencies, each of which is required to identify children experiencing homelessness and link them with resources both within and outside the learning institutions (Duffield 306). The Emergency Family Stabilization Act facilitates the allocation of 800 million dollars to fund community agencies to meet the needs of children, youths, and their families in a bid to alleviate the effects of homelessness. The implementation of policies intended to mitigate the deleterious effects associated with the lack of shelter is critical to addressing children’s needs.
Conclusion
The experience of homelessness among children aggravates developmental problems that require the application of comprehensive and context-based interventions. Systemic and individual challenges such as poverty, mental health concerns, and economic difficulties contribute significantly to the experience of homelessness among children. Most of the affected individuals experience food insecurity, poor education outcomes, traumatic experiences, and numerous health conditions.
The solutions to the challenges homeless children face must be comprehensive and context-based. It is vital to concede the fact that the affected individual’s needs stretch beyond the need for housing. Proposed interventions must address educational, social, and developmental needs while equipping affected persons with the skills they require to escape homelessness.
Works Cited
Duffield, Barbara. “Reimagining Homelessness Assistance for Children and Families.” Journal of Children and Poverty, vol. 26, no. 2, 2020, pp. 293–313. Web.
Gultekin, Laura E., et al. “Scoping Literature Review Health Risks and Outcomes of Homelessness in School-Age Children and Youth: A Scoping Review of the Literature.” The Journal of School Nursing, vol. 36, no. 1, 2020, pp. 10–18. Web.
Lee, Barrett A., and Adam M. Lippert. “Food Insecurity among Homeless and Precariously Housed Children in the United States.” Demographic Research, vol. 45, no. 37, 2021, pp. 1115–48. Web.
Madrick, Jeff. “The Cost of Child Poverty.” The New York Review, 2015. Web.
Murran, Sarah, and Eavan Brady. “How Does Family Homelessness Impact on Children’s Development? A Critical Review of the Literature.” Child & Family Social Work, 2022, pp. 1–12. Web.