Nearly 2,000 children in Rhode Island’s public schools were identified as homeless in the 2023-24 school year, a sharp increase of 35 percent from two years earlier, according to the latest Kids’ Count Factbook, which will be released later this morning (May 5).
This figure mirrors rising childhood homelessness nationally, with the School Home Connection reporting 1,374,537 public school children homeless in the 2022-2023 school year.
Homelessness was among several issues addressed in this year’s factbook, ranging from poverty and healthcare to housing costs and safety.
The report also raises concerns about potential federal cutbacks to programs “that Rhode Island children and families rely on.” Among those the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that serves nearly 45,000 Rhode Island children, healthcare, Head Start, school meals, and several others.
Here’s a look at some significant issues covered in the Kids’ Count Report:
- Homelessness
- Kids’ Count defines homelessness as children living in emergency transitional shelters, couch surfing in homes with relatives and friends, living in hotels and motels, cars, campsites, parks, and other public places.
- The number of children identified as homeless in area schools:
- Newport, 51
- Middletown, 87
- Portsmouth, 17
- Tiverton, 25
- Diversity, equity, and Inclusion (DEI) “is under attack from the federal government…Diversity is an asset, sharing viewpoints and spending time with individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives” fostering growth and building community. The report says racial and ethnic diversity is increasing in Rhode Island.
- Children in Rhode Island are more likely to be identified as People of Color than adults. In 2020, some 47 percent of children under 18 were identified as People of Color, compared to 28 percent of adults.
- In 2020, some 53 percent of children under 18 were identified as white, 27 percent Hispanic; 8 percent two or more races, 6 percent Black, 3 percent Asian, 1 percent as some other race, and less than 1 percent American Indian or Alaska Native.
- Poverty is considerably higher for children of color.
- Between 2019 and 2023, some 29 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native children were living in poverty; 25 percent of Hispanic children were living in poverty; 24 percent of Black children were living in poverty; 22 percent of children of two or more races were living in poverty; 7 percent of Asian/Pacific and 7 percent of white children were living in poverty.
- Sexual orientation and gender identity. According to the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 17.5 percent of high school students in Rhode Island described themselves as lesbian, gay, or bisexual; 5.2 percent described themselves as other; 4.8 percent as questioning; and 3.9 percent as transgender.
- Housing: Rents have increased 17 percent from 2020 to 2024. In 2024, the General Assembly passed a package of bills intended to address the housing crisis, but from fiscal 2022 to 2024, Rhode Island used $332.2 million in federal State Fiscal Recovery Funds to support the state’s efforts, but those funds are ending.
- Average rent for a three-bedroom apartment in 2024 was $2,270 in Newport; $2,430 in Middletown; $2,245 in Portsmouth; $2,101 in Tiverton; $1,693 in Jamestown; and $1,693 in Little Compton.
- Child and teen deaths, between 2019 and 2023:
- Twenty deaths were the result of motor vehicle accidents. Of those, 19 percent involved drinking; 58 percent of teen passengers and drivers killed in auto accidents were not wearing seatbelts.
- In 2023, some 39 percent of Rhode Island high school students reported texting or emailing at least one day in the month before taking the Rhode Island Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
- According to the 2023 Rhode Island Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 9 percent of Rhode Island high school students reported attempting suicide one or more times in the year prior to the survey; 479 teens were admitted to the emergency department after a suicide attempt; 209 teens were hospitalized after a suicide attempt, a 37 percent decrease from 2020.
- Twenty deaths were the result of motor vehicle accidents. Of those, 19 percent involved drinking; 58 percent of teen passengers and drivers killed in auto accidents were not wearing seatbelts.
- Safety. Here’s a look at the number of students who worry about violence in school:
- Newport: 17 percent of high school students worry about violence in school; 40 percent of middle school students worry about violence in school.
- Middletown: 10 percent of high school students worry about violence in school; 20 percent of middle school students worry about violence in school.
- Portsmouth: 9 percent of high school students worry about violence in school; 10 percent of middle school students worry about violence in school.
- Tiverton: 19 percent of high school students worry about violence in school; 13 percent of middle school students worry about violence in school.
You can access the full report at https://rikidscount.org/.
