Housing is the foundation for success from a very young age. School-aged children are more likely to excel at school and be positioned for lifelong success when they have a stable and permanent home. Learning loss, exacerbated by the pandemic, has been a reality for many Virginia children for years. Students from families with low incomes are more likely to have worse educational outcomes than their wealthier peers.
This achievement gap is made apparent by the difference in children’s tested reading and math skills between the lowest and highest earners. Children from the 90th percentile of family income earners consistently perform at an equivalent of four grade levels higher than children from the 10th percentile. In fact, parental income is one of the strongest factors in how children perform in school and whether they complete a college education.
Children from low-income households are also more likely to experience housing instability, which undermines their academic achievement. Numerous studies indicate that children who change schools or are frequently absent experience declines in educational achievement. Changing schools and absenteeism are two of the most common consequences of housing instability.
According to the most recent data available, 16,416 students enrolled in public schools in Virginia experienced homelessness and housing instability (2021 – 2022 school year).
Stable housing can lead to improved cognitive, developmental, and mental health outcomes for students, which in turn can lead to improved academic achievement. A rigorous long-term study found that children whose families were able to achieve housing stability through rental assistance had substantially higher adult earnings and rates of college attendance than children who were not able to access such assistance.
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