Resolution Designates November 2025 as National Awareness Month for Homeless Children and Youth

This resolution establishes November 2025 as "National Homeless Children and Youth Awareness Month." It’s a purely symbolic move, but one backed by some sobering statistics that aim to push the conversation forward. The core purpose is to use the designation to heighten awareness about child and youth homelessness, encouraging governments, businesses, and volunteers to intensify their efforts to support effective programs during that month.

The Data Behind the Designation

Before calling for awareness, the resolution lays out the hard facts, and they’re tough to read. The findings cite data from the 2022-2023 school year showing that public schools identified nearly 1.4 million enrolled students experiencing homelessness—a 14% jump from the year before. This isn't just about older kids; an estimated 1.2 million children under age 6 also experience homelessness annually. For those juggling work, childcare, and rising rents, these numbers underscore a growing crisis that’s hitting families hard.

More Than Just Housing: The School & Mental Health Impact

The resolution connects homelessness directly to massive challenges in education and mental health, which is where the real-world impact hits hardest. For example, students experiencing homelessness were chronically absent at a rate 22% higher than their peers. Think about trying to keep a job or run a business while your child is constantly missing school because of housing instability; the ripple effects are huge. The resolution also highlights the mental health toll: in 2021, homeless high school students were nearly twice as likely to consider suicide and three times as likely to attempt it.

What This Means for Everyday Efforts

Since this is a resolution, it doesn't create new laws, allocate funding, or mandate programs. It’s a formal nod of support. It specifically supports the efforts of businesses, governments, organizations, and volunteers who are already working to meet the needs of homeless youth. By designating November 2025, the resolution essentially provides a national platform to draw attention to these existing efforts. If you volunteer at a local food bank or mentor teens, this designation is meant to help your organization get more visibility and support during that month. The goal is to rally community action—from local school districts trying to get kids to graduation (where the rate for homeless students is only 68%) to local shelters working to provide safe beds.