Adequate housing is a human right. The United States is failing to protect this right for large numbers of people, with houselessness a pervasive problem. Since 2016, the unhoused population has increased every year. Over the course of 2023, nearly one million people experienced houselessness for the first time, the highest number ever recorded (National Alliance to End Homelessness).
HRW Student Task Force members are identifying resources available for housing insecure students and teachers within their communities and developing strategies for ensuring all those in need of these resources have easy access to them. STFers are also advocating with local City Councils and Mayors to end criminalization and promote the passing of policies protecting the human rights of the unhoused.
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Protect the Unhoused Fast Facts
Houselessness has many causes including:
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- Job loss
- Lack of available affordable housing
- Health conditions
- Family violence
- Teen pregnancy
A record-high 653,104 people experienced houselessness on a single night in January 2023 across the United States. This is more than a 12.1% increase over the previous year. And more people than ever are experiencing houselessness for the first time. From 2019-2023, the number of people who entered emergency shelter for the first time increased more than 23%. (National Alliance to End Homelessness)
The U.S. Department of Education defines a student as houseless if they “lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence.” This definition includes students who are “doubled up,” also known as couch surfing, living in shelters or transitional housing, or sleeping on the street.
California
225,747 Californian students are unhoused (SchoolHouse Connection)
Unhoused individuals in Los Angeles represent 7.1% of the nation’s total unhoused population despite making up only 1.1% of the overall U.S. population. (HRW)
Illinois
Illinois has 48,395 unhoused students. (SchoolHouse Connection)
The increase in Chicago’s unhoused population has been driven, in part, by the arrival of 35,000 migrants, all of whom are in the country legally after requesting asylum. (WTTW)
New Jersey
11,104 students are unhoused in New Jersey. (SchoolHouse Connection)
New Jersey’s unhoused populations include: people who have one or more disability (48%); children under the age of 18 (24%); victims of domestic violence (17%); and veterans (7%). (NJ.com)
Wisconsin
16,487 Wisconsinite students are unhoused. (SchoolHouse Connection)
In 2022, there were 4,775 unhoused people in Wisconsin. At the time, Milwaukee County had one of the lowest rates of unsheltered houselessness in the country. (WPR)
Educational Resources
Advocacy Goals: Uplifting Our Communities
What Resources Do You Have?
Survey your school administrators to investigate what resources are available for housing insecure members of your community and discuss ways these resources can become more accessible on campus.
Host a Screening of “Swept”
Host an in-class presentation and/or screening of Swept (Click to watch the trailer, 1:19). The documentary examines the cruel and ineffective criminalization of unhoused people in Los Angeles. Pair the film with a guest speaker. Contact the STF Team for all resources and learn more.
Petition Your Mayor
Join HRW in protecting the unhoused by getting signatures demanding an end to the criminalization of unhoused people. Petitions will be hand-delivered to your city mayor. Take action by signing your chapter’s petitions today!
Take Action: If You Only Have...
60 Seconds
- Bookmark this toolkit for quick access
- Create google alerts for “homeless”, “homelessness”, and “unhoused” to stay current on this action plan
5 Minutes
- Read this glossary of important vocabulary related to houselessness
- Investigate your school’s website to see what resources are available to support and/or assist housing insecure people
30 Minutes
- Watch the Swept Video (16:27) and reflect on:
- How you felt after watching “Swept”
- Did the film change the way you think about unhoused people? Why or why not?
- How you think policies like sanitation sweeps shape public perception of houselessness, and what questions do they raise about how society treats its most vulnerable members?
- Read stories about how many precipitating factors can lead any one person into houselessness
Educator's Portal - Lesson Plans
For educators interested in teaching students how to build empathy around houselessness, please explore the resources below.
In-Class Presentation and Film Screening
A 40-minute lesson and film screening that helps lead discussions on the negative impacts of criminalization and city sweeps/cleanups. Students will gain an understanding of more humane and effective approaches to supporting the unhoused community.
Subjects: English Language Arts, Social Studies, Civics
Grades: 9-12
Inocente and Human Rights
Covering basic principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, this lesson is paired with a film screening of “Inocente” exploring how human rights apply to Inocente’s story and how houselessness affects young people around the world.
Subjects: English Language Arts, Social Sciences
Grades: 9-12
An Unspoken Reality
This workbook was created to dismantle student houselessness offering resources for teachers to educate students about the housing crisis. An Unspoken Reality, encourages students to have discussions and reflect on systemic issues contributing to houselessness.
Subjects: English Language Arts, Social Studies
Grades: K-12
Using PBL to Teach About Homelessness
Edutopia shares a story of how a teacher used a project-based learning unit to foster empathy for the unhoused and how this approach allows students to deep dive into a real-world issues like houselessness with an emphasis on critical thinking and compassion.
Subjects: English Language Arts, Social Studies
Grades: 6-12