Under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which is part of Title I legislation, “homeless children and youth” means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and includes:

(i) children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of  housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; or are awaiting foster care placement;

(ii) 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;

(iii) children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned  buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and

(iv) migratory children who qualify as homeless for the purposes of this subtitle because the children are living in circumstances described in clauses (i) through (iii).

Under this act schools must identify children and youth living in homeless situations and provide appropriate services. One service is immediate enrollment even when they lack paperwork normally required for enrollment, another is immediate placement in the Free and Reduced Lunch/Breakfast Program.

This act also allows for students to remain in their “school of origin” which could be the school they attended before becoming homeless or the school they last attended and mandates that transportation be provided. Fees for school programs are waived for this group, evaluations are expedited and every attempt is made to put services in place for students to achieve academic success. Preschool aged children who qualify receive priority enrollment into preschool programs and are categorically eligible for Head Start.

Determination of eligibility under this act is done by the district’s Homeless Liaison.  Referrals are made by schools and the community (shelters, housing programs, social service providers). All records are confidential and not part of the student’s permanent file.

In addition to our Homeless Liaison BVSD also employs a social worker to serve as McKinney-Vento advocate.  The purpose of this team is to offer support to children, youth and families.

Please contact:

Catalina Mendez, Homeless Liaison, 303-245-5925
Wendy Gaylord, LCSW, McKinney Vento Advocate 303-245-5932