Well-being of Young Children after Experiencing Homelessness

Publication Date: March 14, 2017
Current as of:

Introduction

This brief examines the well-being of young children 20 months after staying in emergency homeless shelters with their families.

Using data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Family Options Study , the brief explores young children’s:

  • pre-reading skills
  • pre-math skills
  • developmental delays
  • behavior challenges

It draws comparisons between children who experienced homelessness and national norms for children of the same age.

The brief also examines housing instability, child care instability, and enrollment in center-based care and Head Start, and associations between housing and child care stability and child well-being.