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Despite reports that over 1.3 million school-age children (ages 5-18) were homeless in 2019, little is known about the effects of homelessness on their overall health and well-being. To better understand where gaps exist, a scoping review of the literature was conducted to identify studies of the physical, mental, and behavioral health risks and outcomes of school-age children experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Following the Joanna Briggs Institute framework and Preferred Reporting Items (PRISMA) guidelines, seven electronic databases were searched using key words: homelessness, children, health, and well-being. Of the 4,372 records, 23 articles met inclusion criteria. Most examined mental health and high-risk activities or behavioral risks related to school achievement. Few studies tracked the long-term health outcomes of homeless school-age children. Findings have implications for school nurses who have contact with children experiencing homelessness and are in position to intervene to prevent negative health sequelae in this vulnerable population.

Although trauma-informed approaches guide services to families experiencing homelessness, more emphasis is placed on securing housing than addressing underlying trauma contributing to housing instability. Examining the stories of 29 homeless and/or unstably housed mothers within the broader literature on family trauma and violence, chronic illness, and cultural aspects of family functioning, we define the process of trauma normativeness and normalization that may occur with repeated trauma experiences and argue that rehousing efforts must include concomitant attention to trauma and to understanding how individual, family, community, and cultural factors influence help-seeking behaviors in this vulnerable and growing population.

Current estimates of homelessness in the U.S. are biased toward counts of sheltered or visibly unsheltered individuals. Those who remain out of sight during counts and/or live in places or circumstances that elude the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) definition of homelessness remain undercounted. Underreporting the unique characteristics associated with subgroups of people experiencing homelessness also limits access to the services that best meet their needs. As national counts drive policy and funding for housing-related services, front-line providers have too few resources to treat less visible and understood populations. We argue that homeless families are particularly vulnerable to these trends and explore how current data collection and reporting approaches thwart family homelessness interventions and prevention.