In Oklahoma, the statistics are startling: 60% of students experiencing homelessness are chronically absent from school, and it’s all tangled up in a web of evictions and housing instability. As if middle school math wasn’t challenging enough, these kids are also juggling cramped living conditions and the threat of changing schools. Rachel Bradley from Sisu Youth Services puts it bluntly: “A lot of young people are falling behind or dropping out because they don’t have the support they need.” It’s hard to concentrate on algebra when you’re wondering where you’ll lay your head at night.

 

The data doesn’t lie—Oklahoma’s eviction rates are among the highest in the nation, and this has put children’s education at serious risk. With schools like Oklahoma City Public Schools reporting that 24% of children statewide are chronically absent, those numbers paint a gloomy picture. Imagine being a kid who has to change schools multiple times a year; it’s not just disheartening, it’s downright disruptive. It’s like attempting to win a marathon while constantly switching tracks—good luck with that!

Local programs are stepping up, but many believe more robust state-level solutions are needed. The community is rallying to ensure that housing issues don’t derail children’s futures, but will it be enough? Wouldn’t it be great if solving homelessness was as easy as following your GPS? Spoiler alert: it’s not.

This issue goes beyond just the here and now; childhood evictions lead to long-term economic struggles that can follow these young adults long after they’ve thrown their caps at graduation. So, what do you think? How can we do more to support these kids and ensure they have stable homes to come back to after school?