AM I HOMELESS?

 

Educational barriers experienced by homeless students are often more complex and

challenging than those experienced by other students.  School can be a source of stability and hope during a time of chaos and trauma when a young person loses his or her housing.

 

Various living arrangements meet the McKinney-Vento definition of homeless, thereby qualifying the child or youth as eligible for services under the Act.

 

The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless as:

 

Children and youth (21 years of age and younger) who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, and includes:

 

¨ Children and youths who are sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason; living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are  living in emergency or transitional shelters; or are abandon in hospitals;

 

¨ Children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;

 

¨ Children and youths living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings;

 

¨ Migratory children who qualify as homeless for the purpose of this subtitle because the children are living in circumstances described in the clauses above.

  

HOMELESS YOUTH

 

Homeless youth is defined as a student who lacks “fixed”, regular, and adequate nighttime residence”. This event may result from:

•       Natural Disasters
•       Illnesses
•       Incarceration
•       Divorce/Separation
•       Evictions
•       Kicked-out
•       Runaways

                                   

Due to no fault of their own, families are often left with no other option, but to move to a shelter, double-up with family or friends, live in hotels/motels, campers, cars, and even tents.

 

Our primary goal at the Penns Manor Area School District is to have these children in a warm and stable environment as soon as possible so that proper education can be provided.

 

If you are personally aware of, or acquainted with, any child(ren) within the Penns Manor Area School District who may qualify as homeless according to the McKinney-Vento Act, please contact the school's Liaison or Director of Education listed below to discuss procedures for referring children and youth for services under the McKinney-Vento Act.

 

The Liaison and/or Director of Education will ensure that procedures and outreach activities are in place to identify homeless children and youth.  The Liaison and/or Director of Education will review a family's or youth's circumstances, make an eligibility determination and help to ensure that each child receives services including, tutoring, transportation, supplies and free meals.

 

 

                                       Mrs. Julianne Miller                              Mr. David Grimaldi 
                                        Homeless Liaison                              Director of Education
                                   724-254-2666; Ext 4951                        724-254-2666; Ext 1850
                                 [email protected]                    [email protected]