An Unseen Reality:
Infant and Toddler Homelessness
Homelessness And Its Impact On Expectant Parents, Infants, Toddlers, And Their Families
Homelessness in early childhood can lead to developmental delays, physical and mental health issues, and lasting effects on well-being.1
Homelessness during pregnancy or within the first three years of a child’s life has lifelong consequences on physical health and mental well-being. These years are foundational to development, and trauma—including homelessness—can disrupt this growth, leading to long-lasting effects.2 Homelessness causes harm, and we must take action to address and prevent it.
The Solution
We have an opportunity to ensure all infants, toddlers, expectant parents, and their families have access to stable, secure housing and the services they need to thrive.
With integration and the right strategies, we can increase access to housing, early childhood development services, and other wraparound support services for expectant parents and families with infants and toddlers.
When families have safe, stable housing—safe shelter when they need it—access to high-quality early development programs, and other supports that meet their needs, young children have a strong foundation to grow. It’s time to unite the early childhood, housing, and homelessness sectors to build a coordinated, holistic support system for infants, toddlers, expectant parents, and their families. A system that can ultimately prevent homelessness in the first place. This means:
Connected
systems
Health, homelessness, housing, and early childhood services must be connected so families with infants and toddlers can get the full range of support they need.
Everyone on the
same team
Everyone—from shelter and housing providers to healthcare workers and early childhood providers—must work together to advance practices and policies that support infants, toddlers, and expectant parents.
Easy access
to support
Expectant parents and families easily receive referrals to access shelter, housing, and services.
About Us
We are leading organizations across the early childhood, housing, and homelessness systems dedicated to ensuring all expectant parents, infants, toddlers, and their families have the resources and opportunities to thrive.
Coalition members
1 SchoolHouse Connection. (2025). Infant & Toddler Homelessness Across 50 states: 2022-2023. https://schoolhouseconnection.org/article/infant-and-toddler-homelessness
2 Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. (2025). Brain architecture. https://developingchild.harvard.edu/key-concept/brain-architecture/
3 McGovern, M. E., Treglia, D., Eliason, E. L., Spishak-Thomas, A., & Cantor, J. C. (2024). Homelessness and maternal and infant health. JAMA Network Open, 7(11), e2442596. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.42596
Resources
Featured
Partner Resource
Thrive From the Start Policy Agenda
May 1, 2025
A policy-driven roadmap for solving infant and toddler homelessness
Report
Infant and Toddler Homelessness Across 50 States: 2022-2023
April 30, 2025
SchoolHouse Connection’s second annual 50-state report on infant and toddler homelessness.
Filter Resources
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Article
Housing Assistance: A Critical Support for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
October 17, 2017
ZERO TO THREE examines how housing assistance programs improve outcomes for low-income families by reducing the likelihood of overcrowding, homelessness, and frequent moves.