Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness Through Education
Nearly 3,500 students in Allegheny County experience homelessness each year. At Homeless Children’s Education Fund (HCEF), we believe education is the most powerful tool to break this cycle.
As the only nonprofit in the Pittsburgh region solely focused on the educational needs of students experiencing homelessness, HCEF provides compassionate advocacy, consistent support, and innovative programs that serve over 1,100 students annually.
Our Continuum of Programming Model is a wraparound, never-let-go approach—a long-term, interconnected system of support that accompanies students from early learning through high school and into workforce readiness. This longitudinal model ensures students don’t just survive homelessness—they rise beyond it.
From mobile classrooms and early childhood programs to after-school tutoring, teen leadership, and career development, our programs work in unison to address barriers, nurture potential, and fuel academic and personal success.
In partnership with schools, shelters, and community organizations, we walk alongside every student, every step of the way—no matter their housing status.
Creating Equity through Education
The Crisis Facing Students Experiencing Homelessness
In Allegheny County:
- 3,496 students were identified as experiencing homelessness in the last academic year — affecting every public school district in the region.
- These students are 2x more likely to drop out and 3x more likely to repeat a grade.
- On average, students move three times per school year, with each move causing up to six months of academic regression.
- Just 13% of high school students experiencing homelessness read at grade level; only 11% perform at grade level in math.
Statewide in Pennsylvania:
- Nearly 47,000 students across Pennsylvania are identified as homeless each year.
- 42% of these students change schools at least once annually, disrupting both learning and critical peer and adult relationships.
The Long-Term Impact:
- After just one episode of homelessness, a student is 87% more likely to drop out of high school.
- Youth without a high school diploma or GED are 346% more likely to experience homelessness as young adults.
National Perspective:
- More than 1.2 million students across the U.S. are identified as homeless annually.
- 78% live in unstable situations: motels, shelters, doubled-up housing, or unsheltered.
- Only 64% graduate high school on time, compared to 86% of their housed peers.
- Students of color and those with disabilities are disproportionately affected by housing instability and education gaps.