03.23.2021 | Forbes | “This is the fifth consecutive year that the number of New York City students experiencing homelessness has topped 100,000, a number that’s steadily increased by more than 70% over the last decade,” said Janyll Canals-Kernizan from Advocates for Children, which works to ensure a high-quality education for New York City students who face barriers to academic success. 

“There are many factors that contribute to rising rates of homelessness—a critical lack of affordable housing, domestic violence, food insecurity, job loss, low wages, and now a global pandemic—and while there’s much the city can do to better support all unhoused New Yorkers, it’s important to remember that students experiencing homelessness need specific support. Without a high school diploma, youth are 4.5 times more likely to experience homelessness later in life. That means that unless we are able to specifically address educational outcomes for students who are homeless and provide the support they need to access education, we will not be able to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness.” Read article