Meeting Their Needs

Serving Homeless Students in Rural School Districts

ECASD Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program

There is no homelessness in our town…

Rural Homelessness 1/10th of nation’s homeless are in rural

settings Single caucasian mothers Families in poverty Persons with poor credit/job history Migrant workers Persons with criminal records At-risk Teenagers Undocumented persons

But we don’t have homeless shelters…

Typical Rural Homeless Situations Living with another family (doubling-up) Living in their car Living in a camper/tent Living in substandard housing Living where an economy is declining Living in inexpensive motels Living in a non-residence shelter (barn,

pole shed, etc.)

We have so few homeless, why should we identify?

Benefits of Identification A typical homeless student can lose half a

year’s worth of learning when transferring schools.

Students identified as homeless qualify for the Free Meal Program for entire school year.

Quite easy to fulfill needs and makes a huge impact on students and families

Nurtures and enhances school-community relationships

What is the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act?

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance

Act (1987) Representative Stewart B. McKinney (R-CT)

(1931-1987) Representative Bruce F. Vento (D-MN) (1940-

2000) January 2002 Reauthorization – The

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (Title X, Part C, of the No Child Left Behind Act)

Homeless Student Rights Immediate Enrollment without paperwork School Selection (school of origin or area) Transportation to school of origin Comparable educational opportunities and

services Prohibition of segregation Public posting of rights

Who is considered homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act? Anyone who lacks a ‘fixed, regular,

adequate nighttime residence.’ Doubled-up with family or friends Emergency or Transitional Shelters Motels or hotels Campgrounds Cars Public or Private places not designed for living Outside (parks), unsheltered, under structures Substandard housing Children awaiting permanent foster care

Eau Claire Area School District Homeless Demographics 2008-09

But we have very little time or staff to keep track of these students and their needs.

Typical Needs Referrals and connections Transportation assistance School supplies Clothing Food One advocate solely focused on their

needs while they are in this difficult situation.

So How Can We Keep Track of Them Simply?

Simple Identification Process Inform and Educate staff on what may be

a homeless situation and who to call Disperse referral forms to school

secretaries, social workers, nurses, etc. Make a list of all community resources

(both within your community and communities nearby)

Make connections with volunteer citizens Buy a crate, file folders, and paper District Liaison may delegate responsibility

But we have no Resources in our Community

Creative Ideas for Rural towns Connect with churches for volunteers Run a food drive through your school and

stock a small amount for needy families Collect clothing donations and store Make connections with volunteer citizens Find volunteers and donations through PTA Connect with your closest funded school

district

Economic Recovery & Reinvestment Act

$800,000 to Wisconsin DPI in next 2 years

Distributed through competitive grant or formula (WDPI Superintendent to determine which)

Opportunity to fund smaller school districts

National Homeless OrganizationsNational Association for the Education of Homeless Children

and Youth (NAEHCY)Barbara Duffield, Policy Director, bduffield@naehcy.org

www.naehcy.org Ph: 202-364-7392

National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE)Diana Bowman, Director, dbowman@serve.org

www.serve.org/nche Ph: 336-315-7453

National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (NLCHP)Joy Moses, Education Staff Attorney, jmoses@nlchp.org

www.nlchp.org Ph: 202-638-2535

U.S. Department of EducationGary Rutkin, Coordinator, Education for Homeless Children and Youth

Program, Gary.Rutkin@ed.govwww.ed.gov/programs/homeless/index.html Ph: 202-260-4412

Local Homeless Organizations

Wisconsin Department of Public InstructionMary Maronek, State Education of Homeless Children & Youth

Coordinator, mary.maronek@dpi.wi.govhttp://dpi.wi.gov/homeless/ Ph: 608-261-6322

Eau Claire Area School District Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program

Pete Riley, Homeless Liaison, priley@ecasd.k12.wi.uswww.ecasd.k12.wi.us Ph: 715-852-6901