Some people have no choice about why they end up being homeless.
After all, it’s certainly not a kid’s fault if they are homeless, but at least 10,522 students are in West Virginia’s public schools.
That’s according to data from the state Department of Education in the 2018-19 school year, from K-12.
If that number seems large, it is. Furthermore, the total of these homeless students increased by nearly 900 students since the 2017-18 school year.
Locally, of those 10,522 students, 288 were in Monongalia County; 122 in Preston; and 71 in Marion County.
Jefferson County had the highest share of homeless students with 1,411 while Tyler County only, as if we can use that word in this context, has16 students.
This data was released in July but only began generating some outrage from our state and national leaders recently.
Though lawmakers passed an omnibus education bill in June — advertised as a way to help struggling students — homelessness never came up in the debate or the bill.
And only in the past two months did members of our congressional delegation appear to have noted these thousands of students.
Most attribute the nearly 9.3% jump in the number of homeless students to the opioid epidemic and in the wake of the 2016 flash floods.
Clearly, it’s tough on children to double up with another family or friends, which accounts for about 87% of these students, from many aspects. But academically it makes succeeding at school tougher than ever.
To their credit, U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore-Capito, since becoming aware of this data, have taken initiatives in response.
This week, they announced more than $3.3 million in federal funds to fight child and youth homelessness in our state. Manchin also called on the U.S. Department of Education secretary in a letter to address this growing number of homeless children in West Virginia.
They are also seeking to accelerate federal resources and raising awareness among county school districts about federal funds to meet this spike.
State government should also be a critical point in addressing this emotionally, if not morally, distressing problem. We’re uncertain what amount of the state budget is dedicated to homeless children and youth but it’s apparent it should be increased.
These efforts alone won’t eliminate student homelessness But they will improve the lives of thousands of children, who do worse at school when they lack stable living situations.
Data on graduation rates and drop-out rates of these students — 64% and 87% more likely to, respectively — back that up. But data and numbers aside, all children deserve a place to call home.
