Part V: Missing School Due to Safety Concerns

This research brief from SchoolHouse Connection looks at demographic and risk factor data of high school students experiencing homelessness compared with students not experiencing homelessness. It uses the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) results from 17 states during the 2016-2017 school year. According to these data, more than 28% of students experiencing homelessness miss school due to safety concerns, which is nearly five times higher compared with their stably housed peers. These safety concerns include navigating through dangerous neighborhoods, often before sunrise and after dark, and being bullied by their classmates. This brief provides action steps schools can take to help these students feel safe and increase their attendance.