New Report: 50,030 children and youth were identified as homeless in PA (SY – 2023-24)

Posted by HopePHL on October 7, 2025

50,030 children and youth were identified as homeless throughout the Commonwealth in School Year (SY) 2023-24, according to reports from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).

Read at PA State ECYEH Report – September 2025.

Highlights include:

• For the first time ever, Pennsylvania identified more than 50,000 children and youth as homelessness. Citizens Bank Ball Park could not accommodate a seat for every homeless Pennsylvanian child.
• There were more than 10,600 children ages birth to 5 identified as homeless.
  • The largest age group was infants and toddlers.
  • Good news is that the was a 6% increase in Pre K children, suggesting that Pre K programs like Head Start are improving their ability to identify and support these children.
• Grade 9 students identified as homeless was the single highest number of all age groups. The data does not say why.

Our recommendations include:

• To ensure continued student support, $10 million in General Fund revenues should be allocated to the Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness (ECYEH) program.
• Locally, the homeless housing and the education systems need to cooperate to connect housing to families experiencing homelessness, especially those living doubled up.
• School Districts should consider allocating a portion of their Basic Education Funds to expand outreach and wraparound services.