Often teachers do not even know that their students are homeless. Even if they do, few teachers are trained in the special needs of homeless children. These impediments only hint at the devastation to a child's education caused by the psychological impact of homelessness. The loss of a home robs a child of the familiarity and sense of place that most people take for granted. At school, classmates are quick to ridicule homeless children, adding stigma to the displacement homeless children suffer.
Many parents feel alienated from school, and most are unable to reinforce school lessons.
A constant crisis mode leaves parents no room for long-term goals such as education and stability. As a result, most homeless children fail to attend school regularly. To help homeless children and their families move beyond the crises of homelessness, we must provide not just specialized tutoring but also a safe place, stability, and direct services. The Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program of the 1987 Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act has taken significant steps toward ensuring equal access to public education for homeless children. But much remains to be done.