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In September 2022, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF) released new funding opportunities that will strengthen the early care and education (ECE) workforce along with program guidance that directs states, territories, tribes, and community organizations to increase compensation and benefits for early childhood educators.
This fact sheet provides more information about these actions.
Families’ engagement in children’s learning at home and in early care and education programs can impact lifelong health, developmental and academic outcomes.
Early childhood experiences with homelessness have long-lasting impacts on a child’s well-being, but access to educational services can help mitigate some of these negative effects. However, federally-funded early childhood education (ECE) programs only serve a small portion of children who experience homelessness. Taking action to mitigate the impacts of early childhood homelessness is critical to ensuring all young children have the opportunity to thrive.
The Office of Early Childhood Development at ACF hopes these profiles, with 2014-2015 data, will provide information for local, statewide and federal conversations and planning toward the goal of ending family homelessness by 2020.
While estimates vary day to day, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development determines that about 194,716 people in families with children were homeless in January of 2016 (about 35% of the total homeless population). Depending upon the definition of homeless (e.g., counting families doubled-up in overcrowded conditions, etc.), other estimates are far higher.