Homeless advocates warn the coronavirus pandemic could lead to a rise in housing instability for students, especially once eviction moratoriums lift. If so, more students would be eligible for federal assistance designed to help homeless students, as long as those students can be identified, Chalkbeat reports. It’s more difficult to monitor students’ needs during remote instruction, but food distribution sites provide opportunities to identify homeless students and those who qualify for services.

More than 1.5 million children and youth were homeless in the 2017-18 school year, long before the coronavirus pandemic began. The number of students sleeping in cars, parks and on the streets more than doubled in one year and the number of students living in hotels went up by 17%. The rate of English learners living in homeless conditions rose by 30% and went up by 16% for those with disabilities or who were unaccompanied.

It can be difficult to identify homeless students and get them on the track. A recent report from California’s state auditor found schools districts undercounted homeless students by 37% in the 2017-18 school year.

Repurposing vacant schools could be a housing solution for homeless. For example, a historic school in Philadelphia was transformed into homeless veteran housing, and a family housing shelter was created out of a former school in Daytona Beach, Florida.

School leaders are seeking ways to establish trust with homeless students so they connect them to services.

Read the full article about homeless students during COVID-19 by Shawna De La Rosa at Education Dive.