If Homelessness Happens To You

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act provides certain rights and protections for families experiencing homelessness.  According to McKinney-Vento, anyone who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate night-time residence is homeless.
 
Homelessness includes anyone:

* Living in an emergency shelter or transitional housing.
* Abandoned in hospitals or awaiting foster care.
* Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camp grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations.
* Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations or similar settings.
* “Doubled up” living with friends or family due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason.
* An “unaccompanied youth”, under the age of 18, living without a parent/ guardian.

Homeless children have the right to:

* Go to school, no matter where they live or how long they have lived there.
* Continue in the school they attended before they became homeless, if that is the parents’ choice and is feasible.
* Receive transportation to and from the school the child last attended prior to becoming homeless, if the parent/guardian requests it.
* Not be denied school enrollment because school records or other enrollment documentation are not immediately available.
* Receive transportation to school and to school programs.
* Attend a school and participate in school programs with children who are not homeless.
* Participate in extra-curricular activities and receive special programs and services (if needed) for which he/she is eligible.

Your child may be eligible for:

Free breakfast and lunch programs
Transportation services
Special transportation for children to remain in their home school
Tutoring programs
Programs to help children learn English
Gifted or Talented programs
Summer school programs
Pre-school programs
After-school programs
Special education programs, especially if the student received special education services at their previous school

What you can do before moving:

*  Tell your child’s teacher, principal and transitional educational social worker that your child is moving, and give them the new address.

* Let school officials know if you want your child to stay in his/her home school while you are getting the family stabilized.

* Make sure you have a Parent Pack (folder with copies of birth certificate, immunizations and other school records).

* Once you move, enroll your children in school as soon as possible.

For more information about your child’s rights under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, please contact:

Tamara Sutor
Transitional Education Coordinator
Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District
608-829-9029
tsutor@mcpasd.k12.wi.us