Why are schools in Sacramento seeing more homeless kids? [Sacbee.com]

A growing number of children who attend Sacramento County public schools are homeless or living in unstable housing conditions, new figures show.

At a time when affordable housingis scarce and rents are high, the number of students without a stable place to sleep surged 15 percent last year and has risen more than 20 percent since 2011, according to data collected by school districts in the county.

Districts use federal guidelines to identify children who are in unstable households, including those who are sleeping in motels, campgrounds, shelters or “doubled up” in the homes of friends or relatives.