SchoolHouse Connection

California allocated $116 million over three years to help schools identify and support students experiencing homelessness, marking the first dedicated state funding for this purpose. Advocates note the funding addresses a gap in identifying homeless students, though they caution it is insufficient for long-term solutions. State data estimates 300,000 homeless students in 2024-25, but advocates say this number is likely undercounted.

Homelessness among families with young children has risen in California, with over 74,000 children under 4 experiencing homelessness between 2022 and 2023. Unhoused parents in Southern California, including Jessica and Erika, face challenges like job loss, rent increases, and domestic violence, while striving to protect their children's childhoods and secure stable housing.