Skip to main content
Parent Handbook » Homeless Youth

Homeless Youth

 
 
The 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 has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as provided to other children and youths.

I. 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
 
II. 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.