A Look at Homelessness in Harford County
As June arrives, families throughout Harford County are packing suitcases, planning road trips, and enrolling their kids in summer camps. School is out, the weather is warm, and for many, it’s a time of freedom and fun.
But for hundreds of children and families in our community, summer looks very different.
This past school year, 716 students in Harford County were identified as experiencing homelessness (HCPS). That’s a 33% increase from last year. When the final bell rings, these children don’t head off to summer adventures. Instead, they face long, uncertain days without the safety net that school provides, no school lunches, no aftercare, no routine, and often, no home.
At Harford Family House, we know that homelessness doesn’t take a summer vacation. In fact, the warmer months often bring additional challenges:
- Childcare gaps: Without school, working parents who are already struggling must find safe places for their children during the day.
- Heat and health concerns: Living in cars, tents, or crowded shelters can become dangerous as temperatures rise.
- Invisibility: Family homelessness often goes unnoticed in the summer, as many families are “couch surfing” or temporarily staying with others, living in the shadows of the community.
While many families are making summer memories, others are simply trying to make it through the day.
This summer, Harford Family House is stepping up. We are expanding our emergency shelter space, enhancing support programs for children and youth, and working to ensure no family is turned away when they need help the most.
But we can’t do it alone. You can make a difference. Whether by donating, volunteering, or sharing our mission with your network. Every action counts. Every child matters.
Let’s make this a summer of hope for every family in Harford County. Because all children deserve more than survival—they deserve stability, safety, and the chance to be kids.
Join us this summer in making that possible.