Fragmented Systems, Disconnected Schools: Student Homelessness in a County Governance Landscape

• In Event: At The Intersection of Schools, Housing Policy, Neighborhood Change, and Social Capital

Abstract

This case study examines how a large urban county government planned its homelessness strategy and the extent to which students experiencing homelessness were considered. Drawing on document analysis and 22 interviews with policymakers and service providers, the study finds that despite high rates of student homelessness, the county did not meaningfully incorporate K–12 schools in its planning or implementation. Instead, institutional silos, definitional misalignment, and priorities focused on visible adult homelessness marginalized educational institutions and youth-specific needs. Using a critical policy analysis lens, the study shows how governance fragmentation reproduces inequities for students and offers implications for more inclusive, cross-sector approaches.

Author

• Earl J. Edwards, Boston College