Summertime Hunger Among Homeless New York Children

Summertime Hunger Among New York City Children

Photo Credit: SerPhoto - stock.adobe.com

For many children, summer break is a time of excitement and exploration, free from the demands of school and extracurricular activities. But for the less fortunate children of New York City and elsewhere, the summer is a period of anxiety and deprivation. Without the breakfasts and lunches provided to them by their schools, these children will experience food insecurity and, yes, even hunger. This blog post will discuss summertime hunger among homeless New York City children, its prevalence, its impact on developing minds and bodies and how we can assist this vulnerable population. 

How Common Is Summertime Hunger Among Homeless Children in New York City? 

Before we delve into the numbers, the authors of this blog post would like to state that hunger is not exclusive to the summer months, nor is it constrained merely to young people who lack a safe, reliable place to sleep at night. Indeed, many New Yorkers from low income families experience exacerbated hunger when school is out for extended periods of time. 

That said, as of the 2024 - 2025 school year,  the New York City Department of Education had 2.24 million students enrolled in its schools. [1] During that same time, 68 percent of students were eligible for free or reduced price breakfasts and lunches. [2] That would mean that approximately 1,523,200 students relied on their schools for basic sustenance. That need does not end with the school year. 

What Effect Does Summertime Hunger Have On Growing Minds and Bodies? 

Food insecurity imperils our physical, mental and emotional health. When it’s prevalent from the beginning of our lives, it can have devastating lifelong consequences. To quote No Kid Hungry, a nonprofit organization dedicated to feeding hungry children, “A child who experiences hunger will inevitably face challenges in school, but it can also impact their learning and development long before their first day of kindergarten.” [3] Some of these negative impacts, include, but are not limited to, the following: 

  • Challenges with language and comprehension 
  • Developmental delays 
  • Depression 
  • Mood, behavior and substance use disorders 
  • Inability to form healthy attachments to parents, caregivers and/or peers 
  • Chronic, toxic levels of stress that later contribute to: 
    • Cardiovascular disease 
    • Cancer 
    • Asthma 
    • Autoimmune disorders 
  • Problems with maintaining a healthy weight 
  • Low energy levels 
  • Diminished immunity 

How Do We Combat Summertime Hunger Among Homeless Children in New York City?

In a rare bit of good news, the City and State of New York are both working to supply nutritious meals to the homeless and those from low income households. In January of this year, Governor Kathy Hochul announced initiatives to provide free breakfasts and lunches to more than 2.7 million students in New York. [4] 

In addition, the New York City Department of Education offers summer meals to those 18 years of age and younger from the end of the school year until August 29th. No signatures, papers or IDs will be required. 

Other low income individuals may find some support from City Harvest, a nonprofit organization that operates soup kitchens, food pantries, community fridges and other locations. 

For those who would like to help provide for their fellow New Yorkers, please consider donating to donateNYC. 

If you would like to contribute in other meaningful ways, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Mentor A Promise and its network of partner organizations. 

Contact Mentor A Promise Today 

Our organization recognizes the immense potential within each individual and seeks to provide them with the educational resources and opportunities they need to thrive. To that end, we have built a strong network of family shelters, educational institutions and community organizations to support homeless children, youths and their families. Click these links to learn more about what we offer or to get involved. Together, we can break the cycle of homelessness. 


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