649 Harford County Students Need Our Community
As summer winds down, many families are shopping for backpacks, planning class schedules, and preparing for the first day of school.
But for 649 students in Harford County Public Schools, preparing for school looks very different.
During the 2025–2026 school year, Harford County Public Schools identified 649 students experiencing homelessness under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Behind each of those numbers is a child facing uncertainty, wondering where they will sleep, how they will get to school, or whether they will have a quiet place to complete their homework.
Homelessness doesn’t just affect where a child sleeps. It affects nearly every aspect of their education.
Nearly half of all students experiencing homelessness (310 students, or 47.8%) were in elementary school, demonstrating that housing instability impacts children during some of the most critical years of their academic and social development. Another 203 students were enrolled in high school, where the pressures of academics, employment, and planning for the future become even greater.
Perhaps most concerning, 71 students were identified as unaccompanied youth. Young people living without a parent or legal guardian. These students often navigate school, work, transportation, and daily life on their own while trying to maintain a sense of normalcy and continue their education.
The report also illustrates that homelessness doesn’t always look the way people expect. While 63 students were living in shelters, the majority were staying in temporary situations:
- 373 students were doubled up with relatives or friends.
- 164 students were living in hotels or motels.
- 49 students were in other unstable housing situations.
These are families doing everything they can to avoid sleeping on the streets, often moving from one temporary location to another while trying to keep their children in school.
Despite these challenges, Harford County Public Schools works tirelessly to remove barriers to education. During the school year, 432 students were able to remain in their school of origin, helping preserve relationships with teachers and classmates, while 75 students received transportation assistance to ensure they could continue attending school.
At Harford Family House, we see firsthand how stable housing transforms a child’s future.
When a family enters one of our programs, children gain more than a safe place to sleep. They gain consistency. They gain routines. They gain a quiet place to read, complete homework, and simply be kids again. Parents receive the support they need to regain financial stability, while our case management team works alongside them to build a path toward permanent housing.
Every child deserves the opportunity to focus on learning, not on where they will sleep that night.
As our community prepares for another school year, these 649 students remind us that homelessness is not someone else’s problem. It is happening here in Harford County, affecting children in every grade level and every corner of our community.
Together, we can help change that.
Through the generosity of our donors, volunteers, community partners, and supporters, Harford Family House continues to provide shelter, housing, and supportive services that help families regain stability and give children the foundation they need to succeed in school and in life.
Because every child deserves more than a place to stay.
Every child deserves a place to call home.