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Homelessness

Sleeping boy.Each year, more than 1 million young children experience homelessness in the United States. These children are automatically eligible for Head Start services. Homelessness is a circumstance families may experience when they are faced with such challenges as extreme poverty and lack of affordable housing. It can also occur when a family's current living situation becomes unsafe or unstable.

Homelessness is a state of vulnerability for children and families. It can expose them to physical, mental, and developmental risks. This resource collection features materials to help Head Start programs provide needed support to children and families experiencing homelessness.

Explore relevant eligibility, recruitment, selection, enrollment, and attendance (ERSEA) strategies and resources for supporting families in your program.

Partnering with Education Liaisons

Director Garvin identifies how programs can partner with school district homeless liaisons to enroll and support more children and families experiencing homelessness.

Housing Access

Director Garvin acknowledges the challenges programs face in helping all Head Start families obtain safe and reliable housing.

Our Language Matters

Director Garvin shares how family service professionals can initiate caring conversations about McKinney-Vento eligibility. He also provides examples of how small language changes can make a big difference.

Home at Head Start with Director Garvin

Director Khari M. Garvin’s Home at Head Start video series highlights the many ways our programs are equipped to support young children and families experiencing housing loss or instability.