Pennsylvania reported that 26,273 children and youth who experienced homelessness were served in School Year (SY) 2013-14, a 27.8 percent increase from SY 2010-2011. Most homeless students are living doubled-up (living in someone else’s house temporarily) and not in shelters or outdoors. In Pennsylvania, 64 percent of homeless students lived doubled up. Only 29 percent were in shelters.
Philadelphia has its highest number ever of children and youth who experienced homelessness, identifying 5,764. The number of homeless children living doubled up (n=1,921) is almost equal to the number in shelters (n=2,249), suggesting a greater need for prevention programs, affordable housing, and emergency housing that would connect homeless families and children with services.
Read PEC’s two latest reports on these issues at: http://www.pec-cares.org/index.php?page=publications_newsletters