HOUSING

This indicator reports the number of insecurely housed students identified by school districts as homeless, meaning they are living in motels, shelters, parks and doubling- or tripling-up in a home, as defined by the McKinneyVento Homeless Education Assistance Act.

The high mobility, trauma and poverty associated with homelessness and insecure housing create educational barriers, such as low school attendance, as well as development, physical and emotional problems for students. Lacking a fixed, regular nighttime stay increases the chances that a student will require additional support services associated with their developmental and academic success. A homeless student or one living in a crowded environment may experience a greater tendency for stress and anxiety not knowing where they are going to sleep each night nor having a consistent, quiet, permanent place to study or do their homework. Lack of secure housing may be associated with lower standardized test scores in all areas.

• In 2014/15, 5.2% (26,064) of students in Orange County experienced insecure housing, which is 160% greater than the percent of Orange County students in 2005/06, at 2.0% (11,642).1

• With regard to primary nighttime residence, in 2014/15:

– 90.3% (23,533) of insecurely housed students were doubled or tripled-up in housing

4.7% (1,232) of insecurely housed students were housed in shelters.

– 4.0% (1,052) of insecurely housed students were in hotels or motels.

0.9% (247) of insecurely house students were unsheltered.2

• Of those students with insecure housing in 2014/15, elementary age students (pre K- 5th grade) represent the highest percent at 44.8%, followed by high school students (grades 9-12) at 33.2% and middle school students (grades 6-8) at 22.0%.3

Number and Percent of Students with Insecure Housing, Orange County and California, 2005/06 to 2014/15

* Data from 2014-2015 is lower due to a statewide data system error at the CDE that likely resulted in under-reported counts.

Source: Orange County Department of Education

Source: California Department of Education

Percent of Enrolled Students with Insecure Housing, by School District, 2014/15

Note: *ACCESS (Alternative, Community and Correctional Schools and Service) student population is unique in that it encompasses a wide range of youth, including students in group homes or incarcerated in institutions, students on probation or homeless, students who are parents or working full-time, students participating in a home schooling program and students who are referred by local school districts.

Source: California Department of Education. Data provided by districts on their LEA Reporting Consolidated Application and Reporting System (CARS).