Eviction poses a significant challenge for children like Mackenzie Holmes, who have faced numerous relocations and school changes due to housing instability. Research from the Eviction Lab highlights the frequent school transfers and increased absenteeism faced by children from households threatened with eviction, often resulting in poorer academic outcomes. Despite federal laws aimed at keeping homeless students enrolled in the same schools, many children fall through the cracks due to bureaucratic hurdles and lack of awareness about their situations. The issue is exacerbated in sprawling urban areas like Houston, where district boundaries complicate school continuity for transient students. Families, often led by low-wage earners without paid parental leave, struggle to maintain housing stability, impacting children's education and social well-being.

Mackenzie Holmes, a 10-year-old girl, has experienced multiple evictions and frequent school changes, affecting her education and social connections, as she only has one long-term friend and was late in being diagnosed with dyslexia.

A study from the Eviction Lab, published in Sociology of Education, revealed that children from households facing eviction are more likely to transfer schools, miss school days, and face suspensions, often ending up in less well-funded schools.

Between 2002 and 2016, over 18,000 instances of students living in homes with eviction filings were identified in the Houston Independent School District, with many children experiencing repeated evictions.

Federal law mandates that districts provide transportation and try to keep displaced students in their original schools, but children facing eviction often don't qualify for these services or are lost in the system due to uncoordinated efforts.

Houston's extensive urban sprawl complicates the education of transient students as they can inadvertently cross district boundaries, disrupting their schooling continuity and increasing the likelihood of absenteeism.

Families with children are twice as likely to face eviction, often due to financial strains exacerbated by the lack of paid parental leave for low-wage workers, leaving children vulnerable to educational disruptions.

Some families, like Neveah Barahona's, experience emotional and academic strain due to frequent relocations, while others, like Millicent Brown's, face potential future evictions due to external factors such as infrastructure projects.