2005 Summary Analysis of the South Carolina Homeless Population

Homeless School Children in S.C. - A Different Definition than the Count

The number of Homeless School Children determined by the S.C. Department of Education, using the broader homeless definition from the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is 6,139 for School Year 2003-2004. The numbers of Homeless School Children, by school district, are shown in the following chart and were provided by the SC Department of Education.

The homeless school children definition includes those children who lack a fixed, regular and adequate night time residence, those living in doubled-up situations, those living in shelters, in temporary residences, and in public or private places not designed for sleeping accommodations for human beings. Additional information on the homeless school children definition and the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act can be found at the South Carolina Department of Education website.

The number of South Carolina Homeless School Children (6,139) is 6.2 times higher than the number of children found in the 2005 Count (989). This is due, in large part, to the differing homeless definitions between the January 2005 Homelessness Count and the Homeless School Children/McKinney-Vento.

Children and youth identified as homeless by State Departments of Education in FY2000 were found to live in shelters (35%), doubled-up with family or friends (34%) and in motels and other locations (23%) (Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program, Report to Congress, FY 2000). This information and other information about the barriers to education facing homeless children (transportation, documentation, identification, immunizations, lower enrollments, etc) are found in the Report to Congress and on the National Coalition for the Homeless website.

The 989 children counted in the Homeless Count represent 15% of the total homeless population counted. While definitional problems and time studied issues do matter, it is interesting to note that a study done by the Urban Institute approximated that 1.35 of the 3.5 million (38.6%) they estimated as homeless during a given year, were children. Additionally, a 2001 United States Conference of Mayors' survey of homelessness in 27 cities found that children under the age of 18 made up 25.3% of the urban homeless population. Thus, the proportion of South Carolina children found in the 2005 Count (15%) is low in comparison.

South Carolina School Children Defined as Homeless Using the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act,* School Year 2003-2004, Pre-School to Grade 12

*The total number of students reported homeless for school year 2003-2004 by the South Carolina Department of Education is 6,139. The numbers above, reported by SCDOE add to 6,119. At the Federal level, school year 2003-2004 was the first year homeless school children were recorded and the US DOE has a total of 5,805 homeless school children which does not include preschool. The numbers for School year 2004-2005 are expected to be available in October 2005 from the SC DOE, Brenda Myers, 803-734-3215.

Updated Data: October 2006

Primary nighttime residence of homeless children and youth (excluding preschoolers), at the time of initial identification. The breakdown was:

During the 2005-06 school year South Carolina public schools identified and enrolled 6,538 homeless children and youth (excluding preschoolers). The breakdown was:

Source: Brenda J. Myers, State Coordinator for Homeless Education. For more information, please visit the South Carolina Department of Education McKinney Homeless website.