How to fix Michigan’s literacy crisis? Start with poverty and housing solutions, experts say

October 2, 2026

Michigan is experiencing a growing crisis of student homelessness and poverty that is significantly impacting educational outcomes, with nearly 36,600 school-aged children experiencing homelessness during the 2024-25 school year. Students facing housing instability, like 12-year-old Trenten who has been separated from his mother for six months, show markedly lower graduation rates and higher dropout rates compared to their peers. While Michigan has increased funding for economically disadvantaged students through a weighted funding system, experts argue that addressing the root causes of poverty and housing instability is essential to improving literacy and overall academic achievement.

Who is affected

Nearly 36,600 school-aged children (almost 3% of pre-K through 12th grade students) experiencing homelessness in Michigan
More than 710,000 economically disadvantaged students across Michigan
Trenten (12-year-old with dyslexia) and his older sister, separated from their mother Tanisha Adkins
About 8% of Detroit Public Schools Community District students identified as experiencing homelessness
About 85% of DPSCD students from economically disadvantaged families
Families living in long-term stay hotels
More than 20,200 families receiving Housing Choice Vouchers
Homeless students who graduated with the Class of 2025 (64% graduation rate, 20 percentage points below state average)

What action is being taken

The Student Advocacy Center of Michigan is providing support to K-12 students and families living in poverty
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield's Ride to Rise program is providing free DDOT bus transportation for all K-12 students in Detroit to combat chronic absenteeism
Michigan's Housing Choice Voucher program is allotting nearly 22,000 vouchers to more than 20,200 families (dispersing about $104.7 million so far this year)
School districts are using state at-risk funds for services like school health clinics, crisis intervention programs, and mental health services
DPSCD's health hubs are delivering resources to families
Jenna Pickman is working with families to navigate McKinney-Vento Act protections and school transportation issues
Housing attorney Jim Schaafsma is training legal aid groups statewide and working directly with families in need

Why it matters

This crisis matters because poverty and housing instability create fundamental barriers to educational success that cannot be overcome through literacy programs or school reforms alone. Homeless students graduate at rates 20 percentage points below the state average and drop out at double the statewide rate, demonstrating how housing insecurity directly undermines academic achievement. The separation of families, frequent mid-year school moves, and chronic absenteeism create traumatic experiences that affect students' emotional well-being, confidence, and ability to learn. With nearly half of all Michigan students considered economically disadvantaged, addressing these issues is essential not just for individual student success but for the state's overall educational outcomes and future workforce. As experts note, "poverty is a policy choice," meaning these outcomes reflect systemic failures in housing markets and government responses that could be addressed through different policy decisions.

What's next

DPSCD's 2027 attendance plan aims to decrease chronic absenteeism to below 43% and raise average daily attendance to 90%. Beyond this specific goal, no explicit next steps are stated in the article regarding broader solutions to address student poverty and homelessness.

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com