The Homeless Family and School

Case Studies: Homeless Students Among Us

How many times did you move homes as a child? A homeless family scrapbook, if such a thing were kept, would be filled with pictures chronicling dozens of "homes": friend's basements, extra bedrooms, couches, blankets on floors.

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These homeless family case studies provide profiles of poverty, abandonment, hunger and untreated medical conditions. Understanding the life situations of some of our most vulnerable kids can strengthen our resolve to be an adult mentor who practices student centered teaching.

Homeless student scenarios present in multiple ways. Each situation has lessons for teachers on working with at risk children and youths. We'll cover those lessons below.

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Elementary Case Studies

• Kayla started the year as a bright-eyed, silly little girl who made up for her lack of academic motivation with flashes if insight and a great collaborative nature. The change started after the winter break. She started getting a dull look in her eyes and her spark was all but gone. Case details

• Tonya was my student while LaTiya was her younger sister. I often get to know the siblings of my students quite well as I seek to form relationships with the families. This family was more open about discussing their situation... Case details

• Rolando was recovering from a homeless family situation when I knew him. He and his sister had lived on the streets in Arizona while his dad was in prison. He was bitter and explosive... Case details

• Cintana was what you might call "borderline homeless"...she lived in a house, but with 14 people sharing two bedrooms and one bathroom. Although her homeless family situation remained stable, she still showed signs of neglect. Case details

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Middle and High School Case Studies

I haven't taught middle or high school, but I had the great fortune to share a building with our local homeless liaison office for several years. Here are some of their stories of older youths.

• Trey hadn't lived with his parents for two years by the time he came to the attention of the homeless liaison during his sophomore year. He had fallen slowly down a "slippery slope" of homeless situations, ending up in a shelter. Case details

• Alicia was stubborn. And creative. She had developed a personal style that allowed her to stay fashionable and cutting edge even though all of her clothing and jewelry came from Goodwill. One would never suspect that she was living in a trailer that was often without power or running water. Case details

• Quintilla was basically a mom to Alonzo by the time she was a sophomore, raising her younger brother nearly by herself. They floated from one overcrowded home to another. Somewhere along the way, Quintilla's mom floated one direction and she and Alonzo floated another. Case details

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Homeless Family Lessons Learned

Just as we teach the children and youths in our care, every one of them teaches us something in return. Best teaching practices call for an openness to learning from our kids; it makes a huge difference in our ability to mitigate the effects of the homeless family.

Lessons learned: Socialization

• School is about socializing. The relentless pressure of not fitting in, but wanting to do so, is very stressful for many homeless kids.
• Embarrassment may keep homeless students from drawing attention to their situation. This grows more pronounced as they get older.

Lessons learned: Recognition and Reporting

• Don't be too narrow in your definition of homelessness...federal law is purposely broad and our perspective should match that.



• Attendance patterns can communicate a lot about what is happening in a student's life.
• Many kids are playing a role in middle school as they seek to establish a unique identity. Surface impressions can mislead.
• There are degrees of homelessness. Kids may not be completely without shelter or family oversight, but the impact on school is the same (transiency, lack of continuity, absenteeism).
• Some kids are more naturally accepting of their living, especially if they have at least one committed parent at home. But they still need teacher attention and help.

Lessons learned: Lifetime impact

• Homelessness leaves open wounds in some kids, even after it ends. Healing those wounds takes time.
• There's not always a happy ending. All we can do is keep trying...closing the achievement gap one day at a time.
• The process by which a child or young adult ends up in a shelter can mirror what happens to adults; one bad decision and one bad luck situation leads to another.
• As with the homeless population in general, drug use is a "bad luck multiplier."

Lessons learned: Teacher influence

• As always...teachers who pay attention and care can make a huge difference. A student centered classroom is the key.
• All the kids matter; keeping an eye on siblings in different grades (in coordination with their classroom teacher) shows true homelessness awareness.

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