7/21/26- stanisLaus County- the rising cost of housing

Imagine trying to focus on school when you do not know where you're going to sleep – if you had to watch your family struggle to pay rent? While many think of housing costs as an adult problem, the truth is youth face it every day In Stanislaus County. Rent is high and kids are becoming homeless more than ever. 

The cost of living in Stanislaus County is harming our kids., The housing crisis is getting worse and it’s creating problems for kids and making it harder for youth to focus on their education. 

According to the Stanislaus County Office of Education, the number of homeless students grew from around 1,600 in the 2019–2020 school year to 2,932 in 2024–25. That is a 73 percent increase in a couple years. Behind these numbers there are real students who are actually trying to get help and complete homework, engage in sports, and plan for their futures while dealing with these kinds of issues. It is clear that this is affecting a lot more young people in our communities than we think. 

Families are being pulled apart faster. Housing isn’t only just affecting where people live, it can also affect family relationships bonds. When rent, food, and other daily needs continue to just get higher, families are put in a very difficult situation. I experienced this myself having to watch my mom struggle with 3 kids. My step dad died, my mom didn’t have all the support she needed and due to that I had to separate. Young people should not have to worry about whether their family can stay together because of housing costs 

When young people have a home and support, they are more likely to succeed. It also shows that Stanislaus County juvenile bookings have gone down by about 71% since 2008. That means investments, support programs, and opportunities for youth can make a big difference right now there supposedly more kids out to walk the streets. Instead of waiting we should focus on addressing the challenges now.

Too often, people blame young people for struggling without thinking about the stuff they deal with the rising costs of rent. That leads kids to go wherever and to whoever takes them in. The pressure placed on families, and the need for stability all show that housing affects every part of a young person's life. My experience taught me how quickly financial hardship can change a family's life. If we want young people in Stanislaus County to succeed, we must make sure they have something many of us take for granted: a safe, stable place to call home. When families are supported, youth have a better chance to stay in school, achieve their goals,

-Data sources

Homeless students 

https://dq.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/DQCensus/HmlsEnrByDTLevels.aspx?cds=00&agglevel=State&year=2024-25

Juvenile booking 

https://www.modbee.com/news/local/crime/article292759899.html?utm_source=