Child and Family Homelessness in Tarrant County

October 21, 2025

In Tarrant County, thousands of young children are experiencing homelessness—but many are left out of the official numbers. These are the hidden homeless—kids sleeping in cars, doubled up with other families, or squeezed into unsafe and overcrowded spaces like garages, porches and bathrooms. In many cases, they are without proper adult supervision, increasing the risk of neglect or abuse as mothers face an impossible choice: stay with the child and remain in poverty or work and leave their children unattended.

For single mothers and their children, homelessness is both a cause and a consequence of poverty. Rising housing costs, the lack of affordable child care, and limited access to stable employment leave many families in crisis.

The impact on children is especially devastating. Homelessness in early childhood can disrupt every part of a child’s development. Research shows that children without stable housing are more likely to suffer from health problems, emotional distress and developmental delays.¹ The effects begin early—long before a child enters a classroom—and can last a lifetime. Even by Kindergarten, children experiencing homelessness are already falling behind their peers in school readiness across Texas and in local districts like Fort Worth ISD and Arlington ISD.

School Readiness Assessed During Fall 2022

Moreover, the instability associated with homelessness disrupts children’s education, with frequent school changes and absenteeism contributing to lower academic achievement and diminished long-term opportunities.²

Center for Transforming Lives breaks the cycle of homelessness and poverty with a two-generation approach that integrates services for both mothers and their children at the same time. Learn more about our work to stabilize families experiencing homelessness here: Our Approach

Chart data source: Texas Public Education Information Resource

For a more in-depth exploration of family homelessness, we invite you to read the full publication Disrupting Poverty and Promoting Well-Being for Single Mother Families in Tarrant County.