SALISBURY, Md.- Wicomico County Public Schools say 65% of its students live in poverty and 5% are homeless.
"We are continuing to see those numbers increase here in Wicomico County," said Superintendent Dr. Micah Stauffer. "Right now we have close to 700 families ‘in transition’ in Wicomico County Public Schools, or what would be termed 'homeless' by the state of Maryland."
Dr. Stauffer says the school district is working to provide services these students need.
"That provides a lot of challenges for our schools to be able to make sure that we are providing all of the resources that are needed to be able to effectively educate students under those circumstances, which are extremely challenging circumstances," said Stauffer.
"I think whenever you see families in transition starting to be more and more prevalent in a school system, you can imagine how difficult it is to be able to meet all the needs that that child is bringing to school each and every day not only for their life but for education."
Anthony Dickerson, Christian Shelter Director says they have witnessed the same trend.
"We have seen an increase in youth homelessness," said Dickerson.
Dickerson points to multiple factors, like a lack of affordable housing in Wicomico County, economic change and growing generational differences.
"Some youths have a sense of entitlement that you can't tell them anything, some don't like to follow their parents' rules," said Dickerson.
In addition to demographic changes, Wicomico County Public Schools announced the largest enrollment by percentage this past school year across the state of Maryland.