Dear FP Friends & Family,
I’m excited to share a fun opportunity with you, just after I bring you up to speed on a few things I want you to know. Family homelessness often begins long before a family loses housing. It starts when housing costs consume so much of a paycheck that one setback can push a family into crisis.
This month, as we gear up for our big event (our Bed Races on November 14th), we want you—our Family Promise family—to be the most knowledgeable people in our community about childhood homelessness and to, in turn, educate everyone you know about the realities we see every day.
Our friends at Schoolhouse Connection shared that advocacy creates awareness, and awareness creates action. Today, more than 1.5 million students in America are experiencing homelessness, and nearly half struggle with chronic absenteeism because of housing instability. Research shows that when people better understand the causes of homelessness, they are more likely to support the solutions that work. Awareness changes public opinion, advocacy influences policy, and together they create real opportunities for families and children to achieve stability and hope.
The more we know, the better we can create solutions for lasting change! That said we have an opportunity for you to create awareness about childhood and family homelessness in Martin County (and in our country)! But first—here are a few local and national stats for you:
NUMBERS TO KNOW:
- 25% of homeless students move 3-4 times during the school year
- 51% of homeless children in the United States are under age 5
- Homeless students are 9x more likely to repeat a grade.
- Just one unexpected expense can lead to a missed rent payment, resulting in eviction.
- Impact of Homelessness on Children: 3 times more likely to be placed in special education programs, 8-9 times more likely to repeat a grade, 42% dropped out of school at least once, 7 times more likely to attempt suicide, 47% suffer from anxiety, depression or withdrawal.
- In 2019, about 1 in 4 renter households (24%) were severely cost-burdened, meaning they spent more than 50% of their income on rent and utilities/housing costs. [jchs.harvard.edu], [jchs.harvard.edu]
- By 2022, the number of renter households experiencing housing cost burdens reached a record high, with about half of all renters spending more than 30% of their income on housing. [jchs.harvard.edu]
- In 2024, there were 22.7 million cost-burdened renter households, representing 49% of all renters. [jchs.harvard.edu], [congress.gov]
- Looking specifically at the most severe category, 21.6 million households nationwide (renters and homeowners combined) were spending more than 50% of their income on housing in 2024, a record high. [jchs.harvard.edu]
- Specific to Martin County, FL – 43% of martin county households are cost burdened.
- The number of students reported as homelessness to their local school district is 1/3 the true number of children experiencing the loss of their home. About 1/3 children are not school aged and do not report and half of school aged students do not report for fear of being removed from their parents.
- Martin County’s School District Homeless Student count is 612 students = 1,836 students experiencing homelessness (see bullet point above).
- More than 1.5 million public school students experienced homelessness during the 2023-2024 school year, the highest number ever recorded since national reporting began.
- Nearly 48% of identified homeless students were chronically absent, highlighting the profound impact housing instability has on education and long-term success.
- A national poll found that 76% of Americans believe more people are becoming homeless for the first time than in the past, showing growing public concern about the issue.
- 45% of Americans reported noticing an increase in homelessness in their own communities over the previous year.
Evidence That Advocacy Can Lead to Change
- Federal and local advocacy efforts have helped secure and protect housing programs that serve tens of thousands of people. For example, advocates have warned that policy changes threatening homelessness programs could place 97,000 people at risk of losing housing assistance, demonstrating how advocacy directly affects outcomes for vulnerable families. [endhomelessness.org], [publicrigh...roject.org]
- Research and public education campaigns help shift public opinion toward addressing root causes such as housing affordability, wages, and inflation rather than relying solely on misconceptions about homelessness. [endhomelessness.org]
The good news is—through our five core programs, we are able to help prevent homelessness, provide temporary shelter, transitional housing, shared housing, shelter diversion, a path to homeownership or return to independent rental housing and stabilization.
For your opportunity to learn more and to make an impact in a very fun way--I invite you to attend our free event—our 7th Annual Bed Races (yes, we race beds on wheels)—on November 14th! Grab the kids, your friends, and family and join us. For more information, please scroll to our events section below.
God’s Peace & Promise,
Madeleine |
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