As the weather gets colder and snow mixes with the drifting leaves, most of us are grateful for the knowledge that a cozy home awaits us at the end of a long day. But thousands of West Virginians are experiencing both sheltered and unsheltered homelessness — and according to data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, their number is growing.

Meanwhile, a SchoolHouse Connection report for 2024-25 estimated more than 15,000 students do not have a stable place to sleep — and those are just the ones that have come to the attention of the public school system.

Those exiting the foster care system are significantly more likely to experience housing instability. During this National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, the West Virginia Department of Human Services is reminding

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