Get to Know the National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE)

Transcription

1 Get to Know the National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) Operates U.S. Department of Education s homeless education technical assistance & information center Comprehensive website: Toll-free helpline: Call or homeless@serve.org Listserv: Visit for subscription instructions Free resources: Visit

2 Eligible or Not? Understanding & Applying the McKinney-Vento Definition of Homeless National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) Christina Endres Jan Moore

3 Setting the Context The McKinney-Vento Act Establishes the definition of homeless used by schools and the rights given to eligible students Ensures that children and youth experiencing homelessness have equal and immediate access to public education Provides educational support to promote school success

4 Homeless Definition Individuals who lack a fixed, regular, & adequate nighttime residence Shared housing due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason Motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations Emergency or transitional shelters Awaiting foster care placement

5 Homeless Definition (cont.) Public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings Cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings Migratory children living in the above circumstances Unaccompanied youth living in the above circumstances

6 Fixed, Regular, and Adequate Fixed: Stationary, permanent, and not subject to change Regular: Used on a predictable, routine, or consistent basis (e.g. nightly); consider the relative permanence of the living arrangement Adequate: Sufficient for meeting both the physical and psychological needs typically met in home environments Can the student go to the SAME PLACE (fixed) EVERY NIGHT (regular) to sleep in a SAFE AND SUFFICIENT SPACE (adequate)?

7 Sharing the housing of other persons Clarifying questions Is the arrangement due to a crisis or a plan for mutual benefit? What are the intentions of both parties? How long can they stay? Do they have a legal right to be there, or can they be asked to leave at any time? What are the housing options if they don t share housing? Do they have their own key to the home?

8 due to loss of housing Was there a loss of housing due to: Eviction or foreclosure? Destruction of or damage to their home? Unhealthy or unsafe conditions? Domestic violence? Abuse or neglect? Absence of a parent or guardian due to abandonment, parental incarceration, or a similar reason?

9 economic hardship Implies that limited financial resources have forced the family or youth to leave the residence and share housing due to an inability to pay the rent/ mortgage and other bills Clarifying question Did economic hardship due to an accident, illness, loss of employment, loss of public benefits, or a similar reason force the family or youth to share housing of others temporarily?

10 Motels & Hotels Due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations. Consider Why family is staying there. Is it a plan, e.g., parent has new job & is looking for permanent housing? Where student would live if not staying there. Are affordable FRA options available? Is it a temporary situation or long-term stay, e.g., in hotel with kitchen & adequate space? Who is paying for the room? Can ask for a receipt, but lack of one cannot be a barrier to student s enrollment

11 Transitional Housing Temporary accommodation for homeless individuals and families, as a step to permanent housing. Residents of transitional housing are considered homeless until they move into permanent housing. Transitional housing programs may last up to 24 months, provide housing in addition to wraparound services, and typically require participants to pay a portion of their housing costs based on a sliding scale (NCHE s Guide to Reporting Federal Data

12 Awaiting Foster Care Placement Awaiting foster care placement = homeless Already in foster care = not homeless US ED July 2004 Guidance Some states have policies/laws regarding students involved with child welfare agencies Contact your State Coordinator for information about your state

13 Substandard Housing Evaluate according to community norms Common indicators Does not meet local building code Inoperable indoor plumbing Nonworking, inadequate, unsafe electrical service No working kitchen Condemned by a government agency Overcrowded For sample guidelines, see Other Resources at

14 Unaccompanied Homeless Youth (UHY) 1. Student s living arrangement must meet the definition of homeless, AND 2. Student must be considered unaccompanied, defined as not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian Homeless Not in Physical Custody UHY NCHE s Unaccompanied Youth Eligibility Flowchart

15 Specific UHY Considerations Eligibility is based on the current living situation Can be eligible regardless of whether the youth "chose to leave or was asked to leave Sometimes there is more than meets the eye for home life situations No MV age limitations Any student who meets the age criteria for public education in your state can be eligible

16 Review of Eligibility Considerations Make determinations on case-by-case basis Use legislative wording as a guide Notice that MV only lists a few common homeless situations; others may qualify because they are not fixed, regular, and adequate Recognize that some cases will require asking more questions Best practice re-evaluate each student s living situation before the next school year NCHE s Determining Eligibility brief elig.pdf

17 Final Questions?