The Key To Student Success Starts With A Home

Consistent and safe housing lies at the heart of a quality education for students. In 2022, 17.1% of students in the United States under the age of 18 experienced a form of unstable housing, a percentage representative of 12.1 million students. Graduation rates vary among students considered homeless, with numbers ranging from 45% to 86% during the 2021-22 school year. This sizable difference highlights the ability of schools to have successful programming that supports students who are homeless. Yet also exposes the gaps in programming seen around the country.  

So what is Georgia doing to support their students and bridge this gap? 

It turns out, not enough. In 2018, Georgia ranked 8th in the number of students experiencing homelessness throughout the country. More locally, the Clarke County School District identified about 460 children who are considered homeless according to broader definitions. During the Athens Clarke County 2024 Point-in-Time count of homeless individuals, 18% of those counted were under the age of 24. 

Housing conditions impact a student’s success before they enter elementary school, and continue to influence their K-12 journey. Examples of unstable housing conditions include poor air quality leading to health impacts, switching schools frequently due to moving and overcrowding of students’ homes. These effects then go on to impact test scores and behavior in children, affecting their overall educational success for years to come. 

These instances go beyond the K-12 years and can additionally be seen in college-aged students. Students who faced housing insecurity and homelessness in college had lower GPAs as well as additional negative impacts on their mental health. 

A key aspect to addressing student housing discrepancies is the communication between schools, housing authorities, nonprofits and students. While schools can support students throughout the school day, student success must continue when they go home, too. State-supported policy should highlight local efforts to improve collaboration between schools and nonprofits. This serves as an example of how different entities should come together to better the lives of housing-insecure students.  

In 1987, Congress passed the Stewart B. McKinney Act, beginning efforts to implement federally mandated programs to support students facing homelessness. Various revisions and reauthorizations include expanding the program to preschools and requiring liaisons to assist in fulfilling the act. Every state must adhere to this law, yet state and local programs lack direct collaboration and efforts to build upon one another.  

The Georgia legislature has seen many attempts to support students and low-income individuals; however, many have failed to pass. House Bill 27, or the Investing in Every Student Act, proposes to add additional grants and funding to better support students identified as living in poverty. Additionally, bipartisan legislation such as House Bill 689 creates a new homeless prevention program funded by the state housing trust fund for the homeless. 

Local programs and resources are critical to supporting student housing initiatives. 

Lydia’s Place, a non-profit based in Watkinsville, Georgia, is a prominent example of the impact housing can have on a student. They offer holistic programming, including stable housing, living skills education, and case management. This nonprofit has reached a 100% high school graduation rate and a 92% employment rate for its recipients. Statistics such as these highlight the impact of consistent housing on an individual and their future success. 

The Board of Regents is no stranger to the connection between financial burdens and student success. Written in their code, if a college student is identified as homeless, they are eligible to receive in-state tuition pricing. 

Across the country, states have already taken steps to create policies that address the correlation between housing insecurity and educational success. 

The state of Washington implemented the Homeless Student Stability Program (HSSP) in 2016 to do just that. HSSP directly links their Department of Commerce’s Office of Homeless Youth

and their state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. With the support of grants, schools partner with local nonprofits, collaborate on housing strategies and support staff. The program has seen great success with 60% of supported households increasing their housing stability. 

A state program similar to Washington’s, building upon local partnership and communication, would uplift the success of students as well as the future of Georgia. Better-educated students will result in higher wages within the state, allowing Georgia to receive more in taxes and have fewer individuals dependent on state assistance programs. By supporting students now, Georgia has the opportunity to support its long-term future.  

These bills and resources represent only a few of the many initiatives taking place across the state. The success of organizations such as Lydia’s Place and the appetite for state legislation highlight the impact that combining education and housing aid could have on Georgia and its students.