Homeless Youth

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ensures educational rights and protection of children experiencing homelessness.

Policy of Congress:

Each State educational agency shall ensure that each child of a homeless individual and each homeless youth have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as provided to other children and youths.

1. Definition of Homeless Children:

Homeless children or youth are defined as the following:

-Individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence

-Unaccompanied youths who are not in physical custody of a parent

-Lack of safe stable living arrangement

-Lack of permanent housing due to extreme poverty

-Migratory children living in conditions described below

2. Living Situations:

Conditions can include individuals living in the following:

-In emergency or transitional shelters

-In motels, hotels, trailer parks, campgrounds, abandoned in hospitals, awaiting foster    care

-In cars, parks, public places, bus / train stations, abandoned buildings

-Doubled up with relatives or friends

-Sharing housing of other person

-Abandoned in hospitals or awaiting foster care placement

-Living with someone else due to loss of home or can’t afford housing

-Nighttime residence is a public or private place not designed for or regularly used for sleeping accommodations

 Runaway / Throwaway Children considered homeless:

- Children who have run away and are living in inadequate accommodations, shelters, streets, abandoned buildings, etc. (even if parents are willing to provide a home for them)

- Parents or guardians will not permit the children to live at home and live on the streets, in shelters, or other inadequate housing

Requirements of Schools:

• Permit students to remain with school of origin throughout period of homelessness and until the end of an academic year
• Provide transportation to school of origin (joint effort of districts)
• Enroll students in school even if they don’t have the required documents (school records, medical records, proof of residency)
• Enrolling permits students to fully participate in school.
• Eligible for Title 1 Services

Suspicion of homeless youth in the district

If you suspect a homeless child, have been provided with information, or have concerns/questions about a homeless youth, report directly to your building liaison.