Advocates call on Adams administration to improve learning conditions for homeless youth

Last year, as COVID-19 devastated communities across the country, homeless New York City public school students were especially vulnerable as switching to remote learning became a bust. Although New York City’s Department of Education handed out free iPads to ensure students were able to access remote learning, connecting to the city’s free WiFi became a problem. Homeless shelters suffered from little to no connection, making it difficult for students to log onto their classes. What’s more, students facing housing insecurity were also faced with a lack of designated spaces that would allow them to study or focus on being in class.

With more than 101,000 public school students suffering from housing insecurity, advocates are calling on the Adams administration to prioritize hiring 150 new shelter employees that will help create solutions to homeless youth being unable to obtain proper education.

Advocates for Children, an organization that provides free legal and advocacy services to protect the rights of children, said that the number of homeless youth could actually be higher than what was reported since it was difficult to track students’ housing situations during the pandemic. 

While New York has moved back to in-person education, the pandemic has caused severe challenges for students, including mental health and academic challenges. With chronic absenteeism and transportation issues during the pandemic, homeless youth have struggled to catch up with their schoolwork.

Advocates for Children expects the additional shelter staffing can help, as well as provide much-needed support to their families. Advocates also recommend that city agencies come together to address the problems preventing homeless children from learning.