Mission
We are an all-volunteer organization based in Monterey County, California, dedicated to providing stable homes for the public-school students in our area. We have three pillars of focus:
Cultivate
Awareness of the Issue in Monterey County
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Stabilize
Housing for Homeless Students
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Build
New Housing for Homeless Students
With your support, we can work towards breaking the cycle of homelessness to ensure that every child has a safe place to call home. In a stable home, they can thrive in school and beyond. Join us on our mission to make a lasting impact on homeless children's lives today.
Homeless Students Need Our Help
In beautiful and affluent Monterey County, 13,493 public school students have been identified as homeless -- over 18 percent of the total student population -- the highest in the state. This alarming number, is a pressing issue that Housing for School Kids is working to remedy.
The primary reason for homelessness is a severe lack of affordable housing in Monterey County. Rental costs and basic living expenses are typically three times more than the income earned by a worker in hospitality, agriculture, and other service areas.
The effects of homelessness are lifelong. Homeless students often have difficulty finding a place to study, do laundry, shower, and sleep. This affects their ability to learn and ultimately graduate from high school. Those who fail to graduate are 4.5 times more likely to be homeless as an adult than a graduate. In California, 25% of homeless students fail to graduate from high school. Homelessness is one of the greatest barriers to achieving a high school degree.
On average, it takes about $3,000 to pay the upfront costs for one family to return to stable housing and $1,300 to help one child.
Homeless Public School Kids
The federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act was signed into law in 1987. This act established protections for all homeless children and youth by removing barriers to school enrollment and educational success and by establishing services that must be provided by the schools and the county offices of education.
Defining Homeless Children and Youth
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act defines "homeless children and youth" as children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. It includes children and youth who are sharing the housing of others (also known as "doubling up") due to loss of housing or economic hardship.
Housing Challenges Facing Families
More information about homeless children and youth services offered by the Monterey County Office of Education can be found at their website.
By the Numbers
Monterey County Facts for School Year 2024-2025
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72,872 Students Enrolled in School
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13,493 preschool through 12th-grade students qualified as homeless at some point throughout the 24/25 school year. This is 18.5% of all students in Monterey County public schools, the highest percentage in the state.
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12,454 students lived with one or more families due to economic hardship or loss of a home. Note that while these families have a roof over their heads, they often spend a lot of money to all stay in one room, in a household that is not always safe or stable, and not conducive to student learning.
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199 stayed in hotels and motels.
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293 students lived in one of the shelters in Monterey County.
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345 students lived in an unsheltered situation.
