Rural Youth Homelessness

Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing

Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

Take a few minutes. . .• Define the word “RURAL”

• What does it look like where you live?

What is rural?

• Communities less than 100,000 people• Located 100 miles from a major urban area• Large geographic areas with many scattered

small towns or communities• Large areas which are dependent on one industry

such as agriculture, timber, mining, tourism, etc.• An area that is described as “country”

What is Poverty?

The extent to which an individual or community does without resources. Generational

Having been in poverty for two generations or longer Situational

Lack of resources due to a particular event Death, divorce, college student, etc.

Poverty

Poverty is relative If everyone around you

is in a similar situation,

the notion of poverty or

wealth is vague. Poverty exists only in

relationship to known

quantities or expectations.

Homeless. . . What do you think of?

Rural Homelessness: Do we have homeless people HERE???? Homelessness is assumed to be an urban

problem: More geographically concentrated More visible Media depictions In the news More available research Better data

The Faces of Rural Homelessness:

Did you know?

Research shows that the odds of being poor are between 1.2 to 2.3 times higher for people in rural settings when compared to those in metropolitan areas.

One in 5 rural counties is classified as a “high poverty county” in the United States (defined as having a poverty rate of 20% or higher), while only one in 20 metro counties are defined as high poverty. (Fisher, 2005)

Who is most at risk?

Primarily agricultural & farming communities Economy based on declining industries

(mining, timber, fishing) Resort areas attracting new, higher income

residents – driving up the taxes and living expenses and eliminating affordable housing, such as mobile home parks

Rural Homelessness: the “Three W’s”

White Working Poor Women with Children (Bushy 1991)

Question for Discussion:

Where are most homeless families located in rural areas?

Doubling up

Sharing housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason

Doubled Up: Is the situation temporary?

• Has the family tried to access other services to find housing?

• Do they talk about wanting “a place of their own”

• Do the children have their own bedrooms?

• Can the family afford other housing, but are choosing not to move?

Not “camping”

Trailers, camping grounds, tents

Not “on vacation” Living in motels, hotels

Not “adequate”

Barns, garages, sheds

Not “regular”

abandoned buildings

Not “fixed”

Cars

Migrant

Migratory children living in above circumstances

Unaccompanied Youth

Abandoned, throw-away, runaway children not living with a parent or legal guardian

Substandard Housing?• No utilities (heat, water, etc.)• Tarp over roof• Boards on windows• Overcrowded• Dirt Floor• Holes to outside• Motel• Hotel• Camper• Tent• Car

The Effects of Substandard Housing on Children: One out of every 3 people living in severely substandard housing

is a child. These children are likely to experience: Violence Hunger Injuries Burns Infectious Diseases Asthma Lead Poisoning Foster Care Placement Falling Behind in School Dropping out of School

From Housing Arkansas “Benefits of a State Housing Trust Fund” - 2010

Rural Vs. Urban:

Urban: More people living in shelters and

transitional housing. Doubled-up families are rarely ID’d.

Transient populations (families will move in and out of locations)

More single adults identified Homelessness is a more “visible”

issue – people sometimes on the streets

Open to & often seeking services More resources and funding

available

Rural: Living in cars, parks, campgrounds,

barns, tents, hunting cabins; run down homes often without running water or heat, windows are gone, roof covered with tarps; often doubled-up with other families

Stable populations (do not move as frequently)

More families identified Homeless is a “hidden” issue –

people are under a roof Less likely to accept or seek our

services Fewer resources available

Question for Discussion

Discuss potential challenges faced by those experiencing homelessness in rural settings.

Challenges for Rural Communities: Sense of isolation Fewer dollars when funding decisions are based on

population = Fewer available services Less public awareness due to “invisibility” of

homeless Local attitudes: Denial and blame Less existing research about what works in rural

areas “Walkability” and Public Transportation Parents: “Concerted Cultivation:

Homework Music lessons, dance lessons, etc. Sports Extracurricular activities Parent involvement

Question for Discussion

Discuss potential strengths of those experiencing homelessness in rural settings.

Strengths: Multi-service mainstream agencies:

“one stop shopping” Involved and supportive church

communities Extended family support Resiliency “Take Care of Our Own”

Rural Homelessness:the causes:

Pervasive poverty & multi-generational poverty Norm of substandard housing Fewer rental options (older housing stock, lack of

affordable housing & rental assistance) Nonexistent or shrinking mental health and drug

and alcohol services Local employment patterns (low-paid, part-time,

and temporary employment) Transportation issues as barriers to employment

and services Federal homeless definitions that have favored

homeless in larger metropolitan areas

Issues for Rural Schools: Individual Heroes – Limitations? Ill-defined Practices – No real system in place Awareness

How did you find out about services? “My cousin told me” “By the grace of God” “I don’t even know” “I just kept calling people” “I don’t even remember”

Limited Resources – Everyone is competing

Question for Discussion

Describe the characteristics of the best organization you have ever experienced.

Organizations

Research shows that the U.S. is the most “organization-centric” country in the world

Good organizations have the following: Clear mission Foster relationships Collaboration Produce positive outcomes Monitor progress Adapt to change

Network Orientation

Limit “Hero Model” Connect within AND beyond school Move from “service provision” (giving things)

to “brokering” Ex: Morris Small, Book: Unanticipated Gains

Good Child Care Centers – what is expected, but also got. . .

Connection to other individuals, other organizations, leading to other resources that they contain

Building Natural Supports

Innovation Thinking “Outside of the Box”

Look at when your district ID’s students experiencing homelessness. Only start of school year?

Ask families – “Where do you go for help?” What names come up the most? Who are they?

Connect to wider school & district missions when educating co-workers

Tell story broadly to diverse people Use data strategically Train regularly

Interest Convergence

Leads to Change Moral social justice? Or best interest of the

district? Why is student homelessness in your district

worthy of attention? Administration Teachers Parents Community

“Student homelessness hurts all students” – Fantuzzo, et al What is your district’s systematic processes? Policy RE: “Substandard Housing?” Transportation Policy? Data Sharing? Collaborations in the community? Who are your stakeholders?

Strategies for Identification:

Providing education and training to key support staff with districts: Building secretaries Guidance Counselors Principals Nurses Bus Drivers Home & School Visitors Behavioral Support Staff

Strategies, continued. . .

Add content to registration AND withdrawal forms that would “flag” potentially homeless families. Check lists of potential living situations Know addresses of shelter, churches, “safe”

houses, campgrounds, hotels/motels Avoid the word “homeless” Follow up with interview

Sample Questionnaire

“Section A: In what type of setting is the student living now? In an emergency or transitional shelter (formal or informal) Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of other

adequate accommodations In a motel, hotel, church, campsite, cabin, barn or car In a park, public campgrounds, public space, abandoned building

or similar setting In substandard housing (example: no heat, tarp over the roof, no

running water, windows boarded up) Other places not ordinarily used as regular housing for humans I am a young person living without parent or guardian

Continue to Question 2 if you checked any box in Section A. . .”

Strategies, continued. . .

Establish relationships with outside entities: Churches Social Service Agencies Foster Care Providers Shelters Fire Department Police Red Cross Salvation Army Hotel/Motel owners Food Pantries Campground owners

Strategies, continued. . . Focus training on teaching staff to assist with

identification of existing homeless students If district has multi-district classrooms, educate

those staff as well Provide in-service to Vo-Tech and Alternative

Education staff that serve your district Display information related to educational rights

in key places and in basic language Educate families and parents within district

Strategies, continued. . .

Build on community spirit: Rural families often will take in students and help provide for them; staff and other students provide rides and other assistance.

Build on the small town mentality: “We take care of our own.”

Case Study #1 John comes to school with the same unwashed clothing

on every day. When the teacher asks him about it, he says that his home does not have running water. The home-school visitor stops by and reports to you that the family lives in a cabin with dirt floors and an outhouse. There is a wood stove that heats the home, but the current water pump system is broken. The home was built by John’s grandfather and they have never lived anywhere else. Is John homeless? What would you do to provide assistance? What are issues you need to think about when

talking with this family?

Case Study #2 Cheyenne and her boyfriend are living in a mobile

home with his parents. She is 18 and says she left home because her mother was cooking meth. The mobile home is in a neighboring district almost an hour away, but Cheyenne is a senior and wants to graduate from her school of origin. Is Cheyenne homeless? What assistance would you provide? What questions would you ask to make this

determination?

Case Study #3 Colby (age 18) and Case (age 15) are brothers

who are both enrolled at your school. Their mother’s new boyfriend does not get along with them and they decided to move into their sister’s barn. They have a space heater and mattresses on the floor. She allows them to shower in her house, but her husband doesn’t like them eating the family food. Are they homeless? What assistance would you provide? What other issues should you consider?

Case Study #4 Dakota is a 6 year old who is brought in to your

district by his parents for enrollment. They live in a camper that is parked in a neighboring district. When you explain that they have to enroll there, the father becomes belligerent. The next day, the camper is parked in the school parking lot and the father is waiting in the office. Is Dakota homeless? Which district does he have the right to

attend? What would you do?

Case Study #5 LaMar (age 8) and LaTonya (age 9) are brother and

sister. They currently stay in a small family-owned hotel with their grandmother, where she does the cleaning in exchange for a room. She does not have legal custody, but is caring for the children while the mother is incarcerated. Both children have “special needs” and were in special education, but can’t remember the name of their last school, because the mother “homeschooled” them for the past several years. Grandmother has brought them in to enroll in your district. Are they homeless? What things do you need to consider in this scenario? What assistance would you provide?

References

2010. Rural Poverty in America. Wayne Flint. National Forum: FindArticles.com.

2008. January Research Matters.   Housing Vouchers are Critical for Ending Family Homelessness.  National Alliance to End Homelessness, Homelessness Research Institute.

2005.  Hunger Report.  Strengthening Rural Communities.  Center for Rural Affairs. 

2008. Rural Homeless Initiative of Southeast and Central Ohio:  A National Model for Planning to End Homelessness.    National Alliance to End Homelessness.  

2002. Continua of Care Best Practices:  Comprehensive Homeless Planning in Rurik America.  Housing Assistance Council. 

2006.  Homelessness in Rural America:  Policy and Practice.  Paul Rollinson and John Pardeck.  Haworth Press. 

1996. Out of Sight out of Mind:  Homeless Children and Families in Small Town America.  Yvonne M. Vissing.  University Press of America. 

For Assistance Contact:

Wendy KinnearRegional Coordinator, Region 5Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH) Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV453 Maple Street Grove City, PA 16127724.458.6700 X 1289Fax: 724.458.5083wendy.kinnear@miu4.org