How Coordinated Efforts Can Help Prevent Infant and Toddler Homelessness

(StatePoint) When families have safe, stable housing, access to high-quality early development programs, and other supports that meet their needs, young children have a strong foundation to grow. However, too many families are struggling to meet children’s basic needs.

Nationwide, 450,000 infants and toddlers are experiencing homelessness. Among them, 70,000 were born to mothers who experienced homelessness within 12 months of giving birth. “Too often, homelessness for infants and toddlers is ‘invisible’ — a newborn sleeping in a different place every week, a toddler cycling between couches — while families still can’t easily access child care, early intervention, shelter, housing or other services that support healthy development,” said Barbara Duffield, executive director of SchoolHouse Connection. “These data show that homelessness among infants and toddlers is everywhere.”