SUPPORTING YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WITH AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS - June 2021 Overview

Oct 15, 2026

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Outlines how American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) funds can support infants, toddlers, and children under age six, alongside their families, when homelessness affects stability and access to services. Details education and child-focused funding streams such as home visiting, Head Start, Child Care Development Block Grant, and child care provider stabilization, plus K-12 aid through ESSER. Guides states, districts, and programs on strategically locating, engaging, maintaining connection, and providing continuity of high-quality early care, learning, and health supports.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

Funding under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP)

Education and early childhood supports

K-12 support through ESSER

Child and family needs and impacts

Realities for children experiencing homelessness

Additional impacts during COVID-19

Early learning foundations and supportive actions

SUPPORTING YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WITH AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS JU N E 2 0 2 1 WWW . SCHOOLHOUSE CONNECTION . ORG / SUPPORTING-YOUNG-CHILDREN-WITH-ARP-FUNDS The American Rescue Plan Act (ARP), Congress’ most recent package for COVID-19 relief, includes billions of dollars dedicated to infants, toddlers, and children under the age of six. In addition to the $800 million in education funding included for identifying and supporting children and youth experiencing homelessness, there are opportunities across other funding streams to target supports for young children and families experiencing homelessness: $150 million for home visiting programs (available through September 30, 2022) $1 billion for Head Start (available through September 30, 2022) $15 billion for the Child Care Development Block Grant (federal obligation through FY21; state obligation by September, 2023, and state liquidation by September, 2024) $24 billion to stabilize child care providers (obligated through 2022; liquidate 2023) FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VARIOUS FUNDING STREAMS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN , REFER TO SCHOOLHOUSE CONNECTIONS ’ C OVID RELIEF NAVIGATION TOOL . ARP also provides nearly $123 billion in aid for K-12 education through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER), including several reservations to support students experiencing homelessness and other groups. Child care providers, Head Start programs, and SEAs and LEAs should strategically use and leverage all available funds to locate, engage, maintain connection, and support young children experiencing homelessness and their families. States, districts, and programs can access and use a variety of federal funding streams to support children experiencing homelessness, including: Maternal Infant Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV): prenatal through age 4 (Title I funds may be used to continue Home Visiting for kindergarten students and families) Early Head Start: prenatal through age three Head Start: ages three-five Child Care: through age 12, with services available longer in certain circumstances (i.e. if a child has been diagnosed with a disability) Pre-Kindergarten: ages three and four (depending on state eligibility) Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA): children ages 3-5 with disabilities or developmental delays (Part B), and early intervention for infants and toddlers ages birth-three with developmental delays (Part C) | The Needs of All Children Ages Birth-Six | The Realities of Children Experiencing Homelessness | Additional Impacts ofCOVID | | --- | --- | --- | | Physically safe environments
Stimulation through play
Emotionally supportive, trusting relationships with caring adults
Established routines
Continuity of care
High-quality early care and learning opportunities
Support to develop language, motor skills and social emotional development skills | Often lack a permanent place to live
Sense and take on the stress of their parent(s)
Might suffer from sleep deprivation or other physical symptoms without a consistent routine
Have greater health issues and may have limited access to routine health care
Are less likely to be able to access high-quality child care
programs
Face transportation barriers
Are unsure if they qualify for child care assistance
Are afraid to answer child care eligibility questions about housing for fear of retribution
Are severely under-identified for Head Start/Early Head Start services
May experience developmental delays that go undiagnosed and supported
Might experience more frequent absences due to changing living situations | Many support services and programs for
infants/toddlers have been paused or shut down
Families experiencing homelessness have been more transient, in search of safe places to stay
The shift to virtual learning has left chi

FAQs

Which ARP funding streams are highlighted for young children and families experiencing homelessness?

The document highlights $150 million for home visiting programs, $1 billion for Head Start, $15 billion for the Child Care Development Block Grant, and $24 billion to stabilize child care providers.

How does ARP support K-12 education related to students experiencing homelessness?

ARP provides nearly $123 billion for K-12 education through ESSER, including reservations intended to support students experiencing homelessness and other groups.

What are the key challenges children experiencing homelessness may face, as described in the document?

The document notes unstable housing, stress from parents’ circumstances, potential sleep deprivation, limited access to routine health care, reduced ability to access high-quality child care, transportation barriers, and under-identification for Head Start/Early Head Start services.

Oct 15, 2026

Upload by Sarah