• The number of homeless PA residents increased from 2013 to 2014, with roughly 12 per each 10,000 people experiencing homelessness (National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2015).
• In 2013, 1,492 people were homeless in Allegheny County, with 91 people living on the street (www.housingalliancepa.org).
• The number of homeless students attending public school in PA increased by 18% between 2012-2014 and 2013-2014 (www.housingalliancepa.org).
• As of 2013-2014, 2,958 children from birth to 12 grade were homeless in Allegheny County (www.housingalliancepa.org).

There are many factors that contribute to homelessness (www.homelessresourcenetwork.org):

We know from our data on 8th and 9th graders at Westinghouse Academy, over 10% had been homeless at least 1 time during their school careers.

This is likely an underestimate. 8th and 9th graders who had ever experienced homelessness were also:

• Twice as likely to have repeated a grade level (43% vs. 21%)
• 44% more likely to have had two or more abrupt school transitions (81% vs. 37%)
• Scored 60 points lower on PSSA reading and 65 points lower on PSSA math compared to those who had never been homeless
• They were also significantly more likely to have score basic or below basic in PSSA reading