Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness!

​School Districts across the state identified 40,000 homeless children and youth in Fiscal Year 2022, enough to fill most every seat at Citizens Bank Park.  The Philadelphia School District identified its highest number of children and youth experiencing homelessness – 8,383 in 2022! This is a 7% increase from 2019 and a 94% increase since 2014.


​Thankfully, the federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) provided $36 million to the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s ‘Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness’ (ECYEH) program, which subcontracted more than $3 million to the School District of Philadelphia (SDP). SDP expanded its capacity to provide staffing to train school personnel in 300 public district and charter schools and provide direct services like uniforms, transportation, mentoring, summer programming, school supplies, and more.

​Without this support thousands of school students face many barriers to a high-quality education. The Shapiro Administration and the Pennsylvania General Assembly need to identify a funding source to supplement the federal investment, or replace it if Congress does not continue the ARP funding.

The ARP funding expires June 30, 2024.  You can help!

Raise your hand for students experiencing homelessness by taking action today.

CHALLENGE: Can the Shapiro Administration replace the expiring ARP funding to maintain the level of support that is being developed by school districts and charters? 

ACTION ITEM: 
Contact Governor Shapiro and tell him to fund the Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness (ECYEH) program by replacing all of the American Rescue Plan funding. 

Together we can ensure that every child has a chance for a bright future!