Teachers and Students Reflect on Cost of Living in NYC

According to recent data over 150,000 New York City students experience homelessness and about one in eight of these students drop out of school due to challenges caused by unstable housing. This can affect students, who may struggle to keep up with school work and part time jobs lowering their academic performance.

“When students are placed in shelters far from school it affects their sleep, energy, and school work,” said Ms. Chimilio, the school counselor. Students in shelters often travel long distances which makes them tired and affects school. Unstable housing impacts students negatively and lacking basic needs like sleeping and shelters can make it harder for students to focus and succeed in school.

“If I was an adult I would put like three – fourths of my money towards rent and necessities,” said Jamyrie Minaya, a junior. Rent is so expensive that some students need to be working part-time so that they could afford to buy necessities and their dreams. Expensive rent forces students to make difficult financial choices. Basic needs become harder to afford when rents are high. 

“It affects their attendance  because there are days where students may not feel like coming to school because of the commute,” said Chimilio. Some students have very long commutes that make it hard to get to school on time, lowering their  motivation and focus in schools. 

“I think the best thing is that school comes first. It’s going to reap its benefits in the future,”  said Chimilio. Despite the challenges students in New York City face due to high housing costs,  education is still important. Even though students may struggle now, staying in school can lead to better opportunities later in life.