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Demography & Population Studies

How Housing Insecurity Drives Latino Immigrant Children’s Labor in California

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Stephanie L. Canizales Experts

A new faculty report from the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (LPPI) finds that unstable housing is a key factor pushing unaccompanied Latino immigrant children into the workforce across California.

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Contact: lppipress@luskin.ucla.edu

UCLA Study Finds Housing Instability a Major Factor Behind Latino Immigrant Child Labor in California

LOS ANGELES (June 10, 2025) — A new faculty report from the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (LPPI) finds that unstable housing is a key factor pushing unaccompanied Latino immigrant children into the workforce across California. Many of these young people work in industries like agriculture, construction, food service, and gig economy jobs—roles designated “essential” during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report, authored by Stephanie L. Canizales, a sociology professor at UC Berkeley and faculty director of the Berkeley Interdisciplinary Migration Initiative, draws on interviews with 45 frontline service providers across the state, including attorneys, educators, social workers, and health care professionals. Their accounts demonstrate that when children lack stable housing and their sponsor families face financial insecurity, limited legal protections, and little access to services, the pressure to earn income can lead children into exploitative or dangerous jobs.

“This research documents how housing instability is not just a housing issue—it intersects with labor, education, child welfare, and immigration systems in ways that have serious consequences for children,” said Canizales. “The findings point to gaps in current policies that are placing unaccompanied minors in situations that undermine their safety and long-term development.”

The report focuses on unaccompanied immigrant children—those who arrive in the United States without a parent or legal guardian and are placed with a sponsor, often a relative or family friend. These sponsors frequently face housing instability themselves, are often undocumented, and have limited access to social or economic support. Key findings include:

  • Many children start working in response to high housing costs, overcrowding, or the expectation that they will contribute financially as they grow older.
  • Some minors face abuse or trafficking in sponsor homes, turning to work as a way to escape unsafe conditions or gain independence.
  • These jobs are typically low-wage and lack labor protections.
  • Education often takes a backseat, as economic pressures force many children to prioritize income over school attendance.

This study comes at a critical time. California lawmakers are re-evaluating housing investments and social safety net programs amid significant budget constraints. Recent cuts to Medi-Cal expansion for undocumented residents and scrutiny of past housing spending underscore the need for more effective, targeted solutions.

The report offers recommendations that build on existing efforts and point to areas where strategic investments could make a difference:

  • Create a coordinated statewide network of emergency shelters for youth, especially those escaping abuse, trafficking, or forced labor.
  • Expand access to rental assistance and down payment programs, regardless of immigration status, to reduce the financial strain that contributes to child labor.
  • Bolster tenant protections and increase funding for housing code enforcement, especially in areas with large immigrant communities.
  • Strengthen access to legal services for unaccompanied minors and immigrant families facing labor and housing violations.
  • Develop school-based and community “wraparound” hubs that provide legal, health, housing, and education support in one accessible location.

“Some of these solutions already exist, but they’re not well coordinated,” said former California Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, now a senior advisor for policy and public affairs at LPPI. “This is about making sure the systems we have are working together so that children don’t fall through the cracks.”

Read the full report here

About the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute:

The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute is a non-partisan research institute committed to informing and elevating Latino voices in policymaking through rigorous research and analysis. LPPI’s mission is to promote inclusive, effective policies that serve Latino communities and advance social equity. For more information, visit latino.ucla.edu.

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