Homeless Education

Homelessness

When we start to think outside the box defining what is meant by "homeless," we may become more aware of people living in circumstances which, while technically "housed," are actually so impermanent, uncomfortable, or unsafe as to be detrimental to the pursuit of a productive livelihood.

A homeless individual has been defined as "one who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence and/or who has a primary nighttime residence that is a short-term or transitional shelter, or a place not designed for / or ordinarily used as regular sleeping accommodation for human beings."

In addition, homeless children and youth may be accompanied by family members or be on their own (unaccompanied). The U.S. Department of Education advises that determinations of whether a child or youth is homeless should be made on a case-by-case basis.

The following link describes situations that in some cases may be defined as homelessness.

Homeless Eligibility and DefinitionsDOC

How School Districts Help

The Louisiana Homeless Education Program for Children and Youth provides support for educational services through the McKinney Homeless Education grant and through Title I programs at the state and local level that are authorized by the Improving America's Schools Act.

Currently, school districts:

• Designate a liaison for the district to act as a contact person, outreach worker and advocate for homeless and highly mobile families and youth.
• Identify local service providers (shelters, food banks, community agencies) and print a contact sheet for newly arriving families.
• Send their liaison to local homeless coalition meetings or other advisory groups where the needs of area homeless people are discussed.
• Print brochures and posters to inform parents and youth of their right to public education, even if they don't have an address (samples are available from LDE), and to provide contact information for assistance with school enrollment and attendance. Distribute printed material at shelters, food banks, laundromats, weekly rates motels, etc.
• Collect clothing, shoes, school supplies, hygiene products and other goods through donations and distribute to students and families in need. And, look for sources for new items for children, instead of only collecting used goods.
• Strive to make newly arriving families and youth feel welcome at school and in your community, even if you know they are not planning to be in the area very long.
• Realize that homeless families may not have money for school supplies, field trips, lunch, or snacks--and seek an "adoptive" parent or person able to help with these kinds of expenses.
• Realize that homeless children are in crisis and need a lot of love and positive attention to deal with their difficult experiences.
• Set up buddy systems to make the homeless student feel more comfortable during a sudden change or difficult transition. Making friends is difficult for many children as well as adults.
• Are patient with homeless children, knowing that they are not quick to trust adults. Many of these children have been let down by adults and in serious cases have witnessed their parents fighting and perhaps being beaten or battered severely.

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Program

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987 is a federal law that provides federal money for homeless shelter programs. The McKinney Act originally consisted of fifteen programs providing a range of services to homeless people, including the Continuum of Care Programs: the Supportive Housing Program, the Shelter Plus Care Program, and the Single Room Occupancy Program, as well as the Emergency Shelter Grant Program.