Summary

Housing instability impacts children’s educational continuity. This report examines student mobility in the Rochester City School District as a case study and makes recommendations for state-level measures to limit the harm housing instability causes to children.

The Children’s Agenda analyzed existing research and data from the American Community Survey, New York State Education Department, Cornell University Eviction Filings Dashboard, and Rochester City School District student directory for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years.

• Research has found housing instability is associated with lower academic achievement and graduation rates, more behavioral and mental health challenges, and poorer child health.
• 38% of Rochester City School District students switched schools, changed addresses or left the district over two years.
• There was high variability between schools with the mobility rate being as low as 21% and as high as 49% of students in a school.
• 8% of Rochester students were homeless at some point during the two school years, compared with 1% of suburban Monroe County and 5.5% of New York state.
• Eviction rates locally and across New York are rising back to pre-pandemic levels with 5.6% of rental households undergoing eviction proceedings in 2022.

New York State government should:

1. Expand the Empire State Child Credit to ensure low-income families receive the maximum credit
2. Increase availability of subsidized housing
3. Increase the Public Assistance Shelter Allowance to reflect the current fair market rent level
4. Create a New York State Housing Access Voucher Program to shorten waitlists and tailor to the needs of New York families
5. Expand initiatives to create pathways to home ownership
6. Strengthen tenant protections
7. Stimulate new housing construction

Housing instability is a widespread and growing problem that is caused by and contributes to poverty. It is a problem that is particularly troubling for children’s education and long-term futures. But housing instability and child poverty are also problems we can address, if we can summon the political will to do so. New York State should identify housing stability as a top priority so every child has a consistent place to call home.