Board Resolution Endorses November 2025 as Homeless Youth Awareness Month

San Diego County Board of Education endorses November 2025 as Homeless Youth Awareness Month. Resolution No. 2025-25 reads:

WHEREAS it is estimated that 1 in 30 youths aged 13 to 17 and 1 in 10 young adults aged 18 to 25 in the United States experience some form of homelessness annually; and

WHEREAS U.S. public schools enroll more than one million children and youth experiencing homelessness each school year; and

WHEREAS an estimated 23,000 children and youth experienced homelessness in San Diego County last school year; and

WHEREAS a disproportionate number of youth experiencing homelessness are members of historically underserved populations, including youth of color and LGBTQIA+ youth; and

WHEREAS students experiencing homelessness continue to face challenges due to high levels of school mobility, residential mobility, educational disruption, unmet basic needs, and homelessness-related trauma and stress; and

WHEREAS youth without a high school credential are 346% more likely to experience homelessness than their peers who complete high school; and

WHEREAS Runaway and homeless youth who live on the street are victims of physical abuse, sexual exploitation, and crime in countless numbers; and

WHEREAS the Student Services and Programs Division, Homeless Education Services Program, provides support to districts and community organizations serving students experiencing homelessness, aiming to improve their well-being and educational outcomes; and

WHEREAS, the San Diego County Office of Education, Juvenile Court, and Community Schools operate a K-12 school that provides a comprehensive program designed to support students affected byhomelessness, serving nearly 350 students annually; and

WHEREAS, in 2007, Congress passed its first resolution recognizing November as National Homeless Youth Awareness Month to raise awareness of youth homelessness, including its causes and potential solutions, and emphasize the need to prevent homelessness among children and teens; and

WHEREAS organizations and schools across the country continue to observe November as Homeless Youth Awareness Month to raise awareness about youth homelessness, and commend the efforts of businesses, organizations, and volunteers committed to supporting children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness.

WHEREAS, the San Diego County Office of Education's Homeless Education Services program will demonstrate its commitment to improving educational outcomes for children and youth experiencing homelessness by highlighting and supporting National Homeless Youth Awareness Month events and initiatives throughout San Diego County during November 2025.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the San Diego County Board of Education hereby recognizes November as National Homeless Youth Awareness Month and requests that elected officials in the County of San Diego, along with all its citizens, acknowledge the unique needs of children and youth experiencing homelessness and work to increase awareness of the issue and their commitment to helping these young people succeed.