The lack of affordable housing in Washington state continues to critically impact families and children, and it's led to a record number of homeless students in the state's public school system.
About 1 in every 25 Washington K-12 public school students, or about one child in every classroom, will experience homelessness this year, according to a report released in May by the state's Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. In Seattle, that rate jumps to 1 in 13 students.
For these students who are living on the street, in shelters or moving from place to place, completing a homework assignment or studying for a test isn't usually their most pressing concern, making it difficult for them to excel in school – or even just attend.
"If you don't have a stable place to live, and you don't have secure food, the learning is so minor in their priority array," says Superintendent Chris Reykdal, who was elected in November 2016 and assumed office in early 2017.
Washington's housing affordability crisis is fueled in part by its large population growth, according to the state's Affordable Housing Advisory Board. Rents increased 18 percent between 2006 and 2016, while the median income for low-income households remained unchanged.
Beyond the state's lack of affordable housing, many other factors contribute to student homelessness, such as family mental health issues and unemployment.
Reykdal says his office and others throughout Washington are working to provide homeless students with the resources to graduate. He spoke with U.S. News & World Report about these efforts and what approaches are successful.
