At the end of 2003, 1,545 homeless families in Massachusetts were living in emergency family shelters and motels funded by the state with more than 3,000 children, 1,400 of whom were between birth and five years of age. A recent report by Horizons for Homeless Children addresses the importance of increasing access to early education and childcare for homeless young children, improving the quality of those services, and coordinating the planning of service delivery. In a survey last winter, the group found that that only 44% of homeless young children aged birth to 5 years of age are in some form of early care and education program compared to 68% of all MA young children in the general population.

Read the full report of "Bridging the Gap: Early Care and Education for Massachusetts Young Homeless Children," April, 2004.

For more Housing data and information, please visit the Boston Indicators 2002 Housing home page.