Resources for Families Experiencing Homelessness

If your family is experiencing homelessness, your school-age children may qualify for certain rights and protections under the federal McKinney-Vento Act. This includes families who are living in any of the following situations:

  • In a shelter
  • In a motel or campground due to the lack of an alternative adequate accommodation
  • In a car, park, abandoned building, or bus or train station
  • Doubled up with other people due to loss of housing or economic hardship

Your eligible children have the right to:

  • Receive a free, appropriate public education.
  • Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment.
  • Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents.
  • Enroll in the local school, or continue attending the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled.
    • If the District believes that the school you select is not in the best interest of your children, then the District must provide you with a written explanation of its position and inform you of your right to appeal its decision.
  • Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if you request this.
  • Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to your children’s needs.

 

If you believe your children may be eligible, contact the local liaison to find out what services and supports may be available. There also may be supports available for your preschool-age children.

Local Contact: Kandi Hensel
Waukee CSD Director of Student Services
515-987-5161
khensel@waukeeschools.org

State Coordinator: Sandra Johnson
Department of Education
515-281-3965
sandra.johnson@iowa.gov

 

Definition of a Homeless Child/Youth

  • A homeless child or youth ages 3-21
  • A child who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence and includes the following:
    • A child who is sharing the housing of others (includes doubled-up families) due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; is living in a motel, hotel, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative accommodations; is living in an emergency or transitional shelter; is abandoned in a hospital
    • A child who has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for humans beings
    • A child who is living in a car, park, abandoned building, substandard housing, bus or train station, or similar setting
    • A migratory child/youth who qualifies as homeless because of the living circumstances described above
      • Includes youth who have runaway or youth being forced to leave home.

 

When you move, you should do the following:

  • Contact the District’s local liaison for homeless education (see phone number above) for help in enrolling your child in a new school or arranging for your child to continue in their former school.
  • Contact the school and provide any information you think will assist the teachers in helping your child adjust to new circumstances.
  • Ask the local liaison for homeless education, the shelter provider, or a social worker for assistance with clothing and supplies, if needed.

 

Additional Homelessness Resources

If you need further assistance, contact the National Center for Homeless Education:

Learn more about Waukee CSD Family Resources.