Lancaster County, October 27, 2025

News Summary

Luke Feltenberger, a Conestoga Valley High School junior, advocates for homeless youth in Lancaster County after facing housing insecurity himself. During the 2023-24 school year, 2,594 public school students were reported homeless, an alarming increase from previous years. The report highlights the struggles of families in securing stable housing amidst a growing crisis. Organizations like Conestoga Valley SEEDS are assisting families in need, but challenges persist due to strict eligibility criteria and a lack of shelter options.

Lancaster County

Luke Feltenberger, a junior at Conestoga Valley High School, is advocating for young people facing housing insecurity in Lancaster County after experiencing homelessness with his family. During the 2023-24 school year, there were 2,594 public school students in Lancaster County reported as living in hotels, couch surfing, or homeless shelters. This alarming number highlights the growing crisis of student homelessness in the area.

Statewide, over 50,000 students face housing insecurity while trying to manage their education and extracurricular activities. In 2024, Lancaster County reported 597 people experiencing homelessness, which is the highest number in a decade. Of this figure, 132 are under the age of 18.

Local school districts have indicated that the number of homeless students is significantly higher than the official census numbers provided by housing officials. The number of homeless students in Lancaster County increased by a third, from 1,938 to 2,594, over the four years leading to the 2023-24 school year. Districts such as Conestoga Valley reported 178 homeless students, while Hempfield reported 202, and the School District of Lancaster reported the highest number at 907 students.

The McKinney-Vento Act is critical in this context, as it allows schools to classify students living in motels, hotels, cars, or doubled up with family as homeless. This differs from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) definition, which only considers individuals living on the streets or in shelters as homeless. This discrepancy leads to underreported figures in official counts.

Luke’s family faced these challenges directly. His father, Rodney Feltenberger, struggled to raise Luke and his younger brother after losing their rental home. The family lived in a cramped motel room for over a year, sharing a space with strangers and lacking a permanent home. They finally secured housing in September 2025 when Rodney received the key to their new apartment during one of Luke’s football games.

Finding stable housing can be exceptionally difficult in Lancaster County, which has fewer than 200 shelter beds available for families with children. Families often cannot access shelters due to strict eligibility criteria aligned with HUD’s definition of homelessness. This leaves many families without proper accommodations.

School social workers across Lancaster County are providing critical resources to students and families experiencing homelessness, including clothing, food programs, and support for educational stability. The Feltenberger family was connected with Conestoga Valley SEEDS, a local nonprofit that assisted them in securing housing and stabilizing their situation.

Despite the challenges they faced, Luke is currently doing well in school and is actively involved in football. He has aspirations of attending college for law enforcement. The Feltenbergers’ experience sheds light on the urgent need for more affordable housing and resources for students facing homelessness in Lancaster County.

Key Statistics on Housing Insecurity in Lancaster County

• 2,594 public school students reported homeless in the 2023-24 school year
• 50,000+ students statewide facing housing insecurity
• 597 people experiencing homelessness in Lancaster County
• 178 homeless students in Conestoga Valley School District
• Major increase in homeless students by a third over four years

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Additional Resources

• Lancaster Online: More Children are Homeless in Lancaster County
• WGAL: Lancaster County – How Many Homeless?
• One United Lancaster: Homelessness Coalition Declares Code Blue
• Fox43: New Funding for Homelessness
• Lancaster Online: Over 2,000 Students are Homeless
• Wikipedia: Homelessness
• Google Search: Housing Insecurity Lancaster County
• Google Scholar: Homelessness Among Students
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Homelessness
• Google News: Lancaster County Homelessness

Author: STAFF HERE ROCK HILL

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