Homelessness among families has increased considerably in recent years. Child Trends' latest brief, When the Bough Breaks: The Effects of Homelessness on Young Children, highlights the potential for homelessness to hinder child development.   

According to the National Center on Family Homelessness, about 1.6 million children were homeless annually in America between 2006 and 2010.  Children without stables homes are more likely to than others to repeat a school grade, be expelled or drop out of high school. Homeless preschoolers are more likely to have a major developmental delay, and have higher rates of internalizing and externalizing behaviors than their peers. To reduce the presence of these behaviors, and improve outcomes for homeless children, access to high-quality child care and early education is essential. This brief concludes with several policy recommendations that could help mitigate negative outcomes.