Created in 2007 by the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), The Pennsylvania Key implements the work and supports the policies developed and managed by OCDEL. Learn More. >
Created in 2007 by the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), The Pennsylvania Key implements the work and supports the policies developed and managed by OCDEL. Learn More. >Nearly 11,000 Pennsylvania children birth through kindergarten were identified to be experiencing homelessness during the 2023-24 school year, representing a 4% increase over one year and a 13% increase over five years, according to a recent report, An Update: Prevalence of Young Children Identified as Experiencing Homelessness in Pennsylvania. The largest increase was for preschool-aged children, with a 3% increase in children identified over one year, and a 32% increase over five years.
This report, published in October 2025 by HopePHI, the Pennsylvania Head Start Collaboration Office, and Dr. Grace Whitney, is the first installment in a series designed to inform state and local practitioners and policymakers about young children identified as experiencing homelessness in Pennsylvania. It updates an earlier summary using data from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).