School administrators say that more than 40 percent of elementary school-aged kids in Salinas are homeless. And the number of homeless kids has increased by more than a factor of ten over the past decade.
The Salinas City Elementary School District said the homelessness is especially disappointing considering that the Salinas agriculture economy generates billions of dollars in revenue a year.
The number of homeless elementary-aged students is growing, according to the school district. During the 2018-19 school year, the district counted 3,566 homeless students. During the 2007-08 school year, the district tallied only 261 homeless students.
