Voices Unhoused: Pathways to Empowerment for Students in Temporary Housing

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 11:45 am
  In Roundtable Session: Healing and Empowerment in Counseling

Abstract

Students who live in temporary housing are a unique population, which all too often go unnoticed within educational research and practice. This conceptual paper explores an inclusive and culturally responsive approach for school counselors and system leaders who serve this distinctly vulnerable population and seek to advocate for student connectedness. Drawing on the real-world experiences of students in temporary housing (SITH), this paper highlights practical strategies that create supportive school communities and foster student self-efficacy through belongingness and respect. Emphasis is placed on the importance of tailored individualized support, equitable access to enriching opportunities, and affirming school environments. The authors explore pathways for student agency and empowerment, which are essential to unforgetting deficit narratives and re-imagining their future selves.

Authors

• Qiana Spellman, St. John's University

• Shannah M. Henderson Amare, New York City Department of Education

• Kelly Kent, Antioch University - Los Angeles