Empowering Homeless Liaisons: A Daily Practice Resource Guide

Abstract

The number of students experiencing homelessness in Massachusetts has grown substantially over the last few years. More than 31,000 Massachusetts students experienced homelessness during the 2023-2024 school year, a 20 percent increase from the previous year. We know homelessness puts an immense strain on child development and that experiencing this trauma and instability can make it incredibly difficult to learn. Research finds that child and family homelessness is associated with poor physical and mental health, including chronic conditions related to asthma, lead exposure, and nutritional deficits; increased school mobility; lower academic performance; higher rates of absenteeism and drop out; and hindered social and emotional development. To help schools support students experiencing homelessness, we created a comprehensive resource guide to enhance and support the work of school homeless liaisons. It includes information about signs of trauma in students, ways to heal from trauma, compassion fatigue, partnerships between school personnel and liaisons, obstacles specific to immigrant families and those who are undocumented, and strategies to improve family outreach. While we created this guide specifically for the liaisons in Boston Public Schools, homeless liaisons across the state can benefit from it. [This report was co-produced by United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Boston College School of Social Work.]