In recent years, while there has been a noticeable decline in family homelessness in Washington D.C., the situation remains critical, particularly among children. During the 2024-2025 academic year, D.C. Public Schools reported that 9,104 students were unhoused. A significant contributing factor to this ongoing issue is the high rate of poverty affecting families. As reported by DC Action, around 21,000 children in the District lived in families with incomes below the federal poverty line in 2023.
The struggle is compounded by limited access to affordable childcare, which plays a crucial role in enabling parents to secure employment and improve their financial circumstances. According to a 2024 fact sheet from the First Five Years Fund, unhoused families in both D.C. and nearby Maryland encounter barriers including age restrictions on childcare programs, stringent shelter regulations, lack of transportation, and difficulties related to financial literacy and enduring support.
Many shelters lack on-site childcare facilities and prohibit parents from leaving their children unattended or hiring outside babysitters, forcing families to seek external childcare options. Although D.C. does provide financial support for homeless families in need of childcare, families and advocates report that navigating the system can be fraught with challenges.
Jessica Portillo, who resided in a Maryland shelter from December 2024 to September 2025, described her struggle to find suitable childcare for her son, exacerbated by his age and special needs. She noted, “Most daycares are not accepting children of my son’s age or seem to have knowledge on how to deal with a child with autism.”
Most family shelters in D.C. and Maryland offer apartment-style living, providing families with their own units. However, these environments often come with restrictions that prevent parents from leaving their children alone for safety reasons. Shelter workers at Playtime Project in D.C. highlight that facility rules can make hiring babysitters nearly impossible, restricting parents who are trying to balance work and housing stability.
During Portillo’s time in the Maryland shelter, she faced strict rules that forbade leaving her son with trusted adults or even alone within the unit. “They threatened to call CPS if you leave them with other people,” she explained, emphasizing the challenges of relying on outside childcare, which is often costly and logistically demanding.
Though D.C. connects families entering short-term housing with childcare subsidy applications, the process remains rigorous, deterring many parents from pursuing it. Portillo’s experience with vouchers also reflected the broader issues families face; she was unable to find affordable daycare options that accepted her voucher or personal caregivers due to system constraints.
Tamara Brooks, parenting program manager at the nonprofit Community Family Life Services, noted that the scarcity of affordable childcare near shelters poses significant barriers for families without cars. With around 36% of households in D.C. reporting no vehicle, accessing reliable childcare becomes even more challenging, compounded by the often-unreliable transportation system.
Families not residing in shelters but staying with friends or family members face their own obstacles, including childcare centers’ requirements for a stable address that many cannot provide. The uncertainty of home and work situations inhibits these families from finding the necessary childcare.
Despite the numerous barriers that parents face, many are hesitant to seek help due to mental health struggles and fear of judgment or potential separation from their children. Brooks highlights the need for empathy toward unhoused families, advocating for communities to extend understanding, support, and resources for affordable childcare.
In a time fraught with challenges, an empathetic approach can go a long way in helping families navigate their situations. By improving access to essential resources and fostering an environment of support, there is hope for more stability and security for vulnerable families in D.C. and beyond.