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SALT LAKE CITY — Nearly 2% of Utah children and infants experienced homelessness in a single year, according to a report from the national nonprofit SchoolHouse Connection.
The report, "Infant and Toddler Homelessness Across 50 States: 2021-2022," was released earlier this month and is a comprehensive analysis of homelessness among the nation's youngest children. The analysis offers a state-by-state collection of data on infant and toddler homelessness, from birth to age 3. The data discusses the prevalence of infant and toddler homelessness, as well as gaps in access to early childhood development programs.
National findings
On a national level, the findings show that from 2021-2022, approximately 2.5% of U.S. children from birth through age 3 experienced homelessness, or roughly 364,390 children across the nation.
Only 41,767, or just over 11%, of these children were enrolled in an early childhood development program, with some states serving as few as 3.5% of the age group and other states enrolling as many as 55%.
Of programs for which the children and their parents were eligible:
- Early Head Start enrolled an estimated 5% of infants and toddlers experiencing homelessness.
- Home visiting programs served an estimated 2.2% of these children.
- Local educational agencies served an estimated 4.2% of these children.
While all states have the opportunity to provide expanded access to programs and services for families experiencing homelessness, through Child Care Development Fund provisions and other initiatives, researchers found few take full advantage of the flexibilities offered:
- Twenty-six states waive copayments for families experiencing homelessness.
- Nine states offer work requirement exemptions to parents experiencing homelessness.
- Eighteen states provide automatic or streamlined eligibility for children experiencing homelessness to access child care programs.
"Early childhood development programs offer a wide range of support for infants, toddlers and families who are homeless — from essential supplies like diapers and hygiene products to services that counter the impact of homelessness on child development," said Erin Patterson, SchoolHouse Connection director of education initiatives, in a news release.
"These programs also facilitate vital connections to both short- and long-term housing solutions," she continued. "We must redouble our efforts to ensure that every expectant parent, infant and toddler experiencing homelessness receives access to these essential services."
Utah's approach and analysis
The SchoolHouse Connection report found that of Utah's total birth-to-3 population from 2021-2022 — 185,594 children — an estimated 3,185, or 2%, of them experienced homelessness.
Utah-specific data revealed that 1 in 9 infants and toddlers experiencing homelessness in the state were enrolled in a program: 143 of those were home visiting and 224 were Early Head Start.
The report estimates that around 2,818 of the children experiencing homelessness were unserved.
"What was new about this report is the data specifically focused on infants and toddlers. The state collects data on homelessness in a format chosen by the feds, and so we have data about kids aged 0-5. But this is the first report I have seen on the youngest of those children. It is alarming that, in just one year, there were 3,185 babies and toddlers who experienced homelessness in Utah," said Bill Tibbitts, Crossroads Urban Center executive director.
"I am really hopeful that this report convinces state and local officials to begin tracking homelessness of pregnant women, infants and toddlers consistently from now on. Cities around the country have had success addressing veteran homelessness. We should have just as strong a focus on preventing babies from experiencing homelessness," Tibbitts continued.
The analysis acknowledged several state policies prioritizing Utah children experiencing homelessness, such as automatic or streamlined eligibility for the children, prioritization for child care subsidies and co-payments waived for parents in homelessness. It also pointed to areas of improvement such as exemptions from work requirements for parents experiencing homelessness and state laws prioritizing children experiencing homelessness for preschool.
The lack of child care or prioritization for children experiencing homelessness in preschool programs can make it harder for their parents to move out of a shelter or maintain a job, added Voices for Utah Children. The average cost of child care is approximately $561 per month, which can add an increased financial strain on the cost of living for low-income families, according to a 2022 U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation report.
Studies indicate that the most common time for an individual to experience homelessness is during the first year of life, and the second most common is between 1 and 6 years old, according to the 2023 Report on Child Homelessness in Utah from Crossroads Urban Center. That data can be seen statewide, as the total number of people from families with children who used emergency homeless services increased by 30% in 2022, the report says.
The period of life from prenatal through age 3 is critical for physical and social-emotional development, but the experience of homelessness can have long-term consequences, according to National Health Care for the Homeless Council.
"Child care is so expensive, but if you have a small child at home, then you cannot responsibly go to work without it. A homeless parent with a small child with autism needs very different supports than a homeless person who does not have children," said Tibbitts. "Failing to address homelessness among very young children will have long-term consequences."
