4. Who is homeless?
Homeless children and youth:
– Means individuals who lack fixed, regular and
adequate nighttime residence and includes…….
– Children and youth who are sharing the housing of
other persons due to loss of housing, economic
hardship or other similar reason; are living in
motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds
due to lack of alternate accommodations; are
living in emergency or transitional shelters; are
abandoned in hospitals; or are awaiting foster care
placement;
5. Who is homeless?
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…
Who are living in cars, parks, public spaces,
abandoned buildings, substandard housing,
bus or train stations, or similar settings; and
Migratory children who qualify as homeless
because the children are living in
circumstances described above.
6. Who is homeless?
Unaccompanied Youth
– Includes youth in homeless situations who
are not in physical custody of a parent of
guardian.
– Lack safe and stable living environment
– Primary reason for homelessness is
physical and sexual abuse by parent or
guardian, neglect, parental substance
abuse, and family conflict.
7. Who is homeless?
Preschool children, migrant children,
and youth whose parents will not permit
them to live at home or who have run
away from home (even if their parents
are willing to have them return home)
are considered homeless if they fit the
definition.
8. What Stressors do Children in
homeless situations experience?
Transient/unstable lifestyle
Living in crowded conditions
Frequently changing schools
Inadequate personal hygiene
Shabby or unclean clothing
Poor health/nutrition
Sporadic school enrollment/attendance
9. Basic Information
The federal Mckinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act
and Texas state law protect the rights of homeless children and youth to
receive a free and appropriate public education. Nearly everyone in Texas
who is between the ages of 5 and 21 on September 1 of the school year and
has not been expelled has the right to attend school, even if they:
don't have a permanent address
have a previous address in another town or state
don't live with a parent or legal guardian
live temporarily doubled-up with friends or family
sleep in a shelter
sleep in a campground, car, abandoned building, or other facility not
designated for, or ordinarily used as regular accommodations for, human
beings
don't have school records
10. How do we identify them?
An SRQ is administered to every
student
Social workers are trained to identify
th e s e s tu d e n ts
11. How do social workers help?
Immediate enrollment
Choice of Schools
Transportation
Services
Free Lunch
Dispute Resolution
