The Intersection of Homelessness and Education Decline:

A Crisis in the Making

Homelessness in the U.S. has surged in recent years. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the number of unhoused individuals increased by more than 12% in 2023, the largest annual jump since the government began tracking the data. Over 650,000 people are now experiencing homelessness on any given night. The issue is not confined to major cities—it has spread to suburban and rural areas as well.

Why is this happening? The causes are complex but interconnected:

• Lack of affordable housing – Rents have skyrocketed, outpacing wage growth.

• Stagnant wages – Minimum wage has not kept up with inflation, leaving full-time workers unable to afford basic needs.

• Mental health crisis – Many individuals experiencing homelessness suffer from untreated mental illnesses due to lack of healthcare access.

• Substance dependency – Often a result of trauma, substance use disorders lead many into homelessness and make escaping it even harder.

• Broken foster care pipeline – 20% of youth aging out of foster care become homeless immediately, with many more struggling within a few years.

Every one of these problems ties back to education. A failing education system leaves people without the skills they need to achieve stable employment, pushing them into economic uncertainty and, ultimately, homelessness.

The U.S. education system is failing. Test scores in reading, math, and science have dropped dramatically, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools in low-income areas—where homelessness is most prevalent—are often underfunded, overcrowded, and struggling to retain qualified teachers.

Some of the key reasons for the decline in education include:

• Underfunded schools – Many public schools, especially in low-income areas, lack basic resources, leading to overcrowded classrooms, outdated materials, and underpaid teachers.

• Teacher shortages – Burnout and low wages have caused a mass exodus of teachers, leading to less experienced and underqualified educators in classrooms.

• Lack of life skills education – Schools focus heavily on standardized testing but often fail to prepare students for real-life skills such as budgeting, home economics, and vocational training.

• Disconnected curriculum – Many students, particularly those from marginalized communities, do not see real-world applications in their education, leading to disengagement and higher dropout rates.

• Higher education barriers – College tuition has skyrocketed, leaving many young adults with overwhelming debt or unable to pursue further education at all.

When education fails, the ripple effects are devastating. Young people without a quality education struggle to secure stable, well-paying jobs. Many end up in precarious situations, cycling in and out of poverty and, for some, into homelessness.

For decades, efforts to fix homelessness have largely focused on single aspects of the issue—providing temporary shelter, mental health services, job training, or food assistance. While these solutions help in the short term, they do not break the cycle. A person can receive a job training course, but without stable housing, how do they maintain employment? A child experiencing homelessness may receive education assistance, but without a stable home, how can they focus on schoolwork?

Education reform initiatives, similarly, have often ignored the broader socio-economic conditions that shape student success. We cannot fix education without addressing the basic needs of students.

At The True Nation Project, we don’t believe in surface-level solutions. We believe in root cause intervention. Our model does not simply provide housing, nor does it only offer job training or basic education. We address all of it together—because that is the only way real change happens.

Our approach includes:

• Safe housing first – Every participant receives stable, secure housing to ensure they have a foundation to rebuild their lives.

• Comprehensive education – We provide vocational training, life skills education, and general academic support to help individuals become truly self-sufficient.

• Mental health and wellness support – Our program includes therapy, substance recovery resources, and wellness initiatives to heal trauma and build resilience.

• Community-driven learning – Our participants learn from each other, teaching and mentoring within the program to create a culture of empowerment and shared success.

• Economic self-sufficiency – By training individuals in valuable trades and business skills, we ensure they can sustain themselves long after leaving the program.

Homelessness is not just about housing. Education is not just about schools. These crises feed into each other, trapping millions in an endless loop of struggle.

The True Nation Project is here to disrupt that cycle. We are not simply offering charity; we are restoring independence, dignity, and opportunity for those who have been left behind.

The time for fragmented, short-term fixes is over. If we want real change, we must tackle homelessness and education together—as a unified crisis that demands a unified solution.

Join us in building a future where no one is left behind.