Feb 20, 2025 Story by: Editor
Picture this: As the sun dips below the horizon on a community college campus, a young mother gathers her textbooks, picks up her laughing toddler from daycare, and walks toward her Honda Odyssey. She softly chats with her child about their day, forcing a smile as she unlocks the door. Inside, she carefully spreads out blankets in the backseat, striving to make the cramped space feel more like home. Unfortunately, scenes like this are far too common for the estimated 213,900 parenting college students facing homelessness.
However, this crisis does not affect all parenting students equally. Data from the Department of Education’s National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS) reveals that Black and Latino student parents experience homelessness at disproportionately higher rates compared to the broader undergraduate population. These disparities stem from systemic inequities, including structural obstacles that have long hindered access to economic opportunities and academic success.
As discussed in the first blog of this series, homelessness significantly impacts the ability of parenting students to focus on their studies and secure essential needs, reducing their chances of completing their degrees and attaining financial stability. Each of the 213,900 homeless parenting students represents not just themselves but also one or more homeless children, partners, or spouses. To effectively address this crisis, it is crucial to look beyond the statistics and examine the systemic inequities that contribute to it, including the overlooked struggles faced by student fathers.
Housing Costs and the Student Homelessness Crisis
One of the driving forces behind student homelessness is the ongoing housing affordability crisis. With housing costs outpacing tuition increases, many students find it increasingly difficult to afford stable housing. Parenting students are particularly vulnerable due to the need for larger living spaces and the challenges of sharing accommodations with roommates. While all parenting students face these difficulties, minoritized students often encounter additional barriers that worsen the situation.
How Systemic Racism Contributes to Homelessness Among Parenting Students
Although homelessness affects parenting students across all racial and ethnic groups, Black and Latino student parents face particularly high risks. The overall homelessness rate for undergraduate student parents is 6.9%, but Black and Latino parenting students experience significantly higher rates. These disparities underscore how systemic racism perpetuates structural barriers, exacerbating housing challenges for student parents.
For Black student parents, housing instability is deeply rooted in discriminatory policies such as redlining and exclusionary zoning laws, which historically denied Black families opportunities for homeownership and economic advancement. These policies contributed to a racial wealth gap that remains one of the widest globally, as documented by the Urban Institute. Today, the lingering effects of these systemic barriers continue to leave Black student parents more vulnerable to housing insecurity and homelessness, particularly when financial crises arise.
Hispanic and Latino student parents also face significant systemic challenges. Many work in industries like retail, hospitality, and construction—sectors that often provide limited benefits or workplace flexibility. Balancing work, education, and childcare becomes even more difficult under these conditions. Additionally, factors such as immigration-related legal concerns, lack of knowledge about tenant rights, and restricted access to public benefits further increase the risk of homelessness among Hispanic and Latino student parents.
Addressing these disparities requires systemic policy changes that not only tackle homelessness in the short term but also address its root causes. By confronting these structural issues, society can create a more equitable environment where student parents, regardless of race or ethnicity, have the opportunity to succeed academically and build a stable future for their families.
Recognizing Student Fathers in the Homelessness Discussion
While student mothers are often the focus of discussions about parenting students—rightfully so, as they represent 74% of the 3.14 million undergraduate student parents—student fathers also face significant challenges that need attention. According to NPSAS data, fathers account for 25% of this population and experience nearly the same rate of homelessness as student mothers.
A report by Generation Hope, EmpowerED Dads, highlights that student fathers frequently navigate college without adequate institutional support, despite facing financial and caregiving hardships. The report states that “61% of student fathers stop out of college before earning their degrees, compared to 48% of student mothers,” with even higher stop-out rates for Black and Hispanic/Latino student fathers at 72% and 66%, respectively. Without stable housing and targeted support, many student fathers must take on additional work, leaving them with less time and energy to focus on their education.
Expanding the conversation on homelessness among parenting students does not mean shifting focus away from student mothers. Instead, it ensures that all parenting students, regardless of gender, receive the necessary resources and support. Often, outreach efforts and student parenting support programs primarily target mothers, reinforcing gaps in assistance for fathers. Addressing these disparities through inclusive outreach and housing assistance can help prevent student fathers from being left behind.
Breaking Down Barriers to Support Parenting Students
The disparities in homelessness among parenting students highlight the urgent need to understand how race, ethnicity, and gender intersect in the challenges of pursuing higher education. To create meaningful and lasting change, it is essential not only to address the immediate needs of homeless parenting students but also to dismantle the structural barriers that sustain these inequities.
Policymakers and institutions must collaborate to develop comprehensive support systems that recognize the diverse experiences of all student parents. Expanding access to affordable housing, childcare, and tailored support services that acknowledge the caregiving roles of both mothers and fathers is critical. Addressing student homelessness is not just about helping individuals—it is about ensuring that higher education remains a viable pathway to opportunity for all, regardless of race, gender, or socioeconomic background.
Source: New America
