Nationwide Reliance on Unlicensed Emergency Placements: 42 States Report Using Hotels, Offices & Other Temporary Settings

In a national survey, 42 state agencies reported using temporary, unlicensed emergency placements to house children in foster care. Of these states, 34 tracked the use of such placements, which, in addition to hotels and government offices, could include emergency shelters, transitional centers, and cabins in state parks. Between January 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, 30 of the 34 states reported a total of 15,705 such stays by 9,045 youth. While in these emergency placements, the youth may lack access to showers, meals, and health care, and may be unable to attend school. The average length of . . .