The Homeless Education Network’s Resource Fair on Oct. 13 is coming as student homelessness trends upward in Wisconsin, said Amy Poole, Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District's Families in Transition Coordinator.
Poole’s role involves supporting MCPASD students and families who are experiencing homelessness. She also serves on the leadership team for Dane County's Homeless Education Network, which fosters collaboration and connection between community organizations and school-based student services staff to better support students experiencing homelessness.
The organization is hosting a resource fair on Oct. 13 from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at Holtzman Learning Center at 333 Holtzman Road in Madison. More than 30 vendors will share resources for social workers, counselors, psychologists, nurses, and community partners to collaborate in meeting the needs of all students across Dane County.
“The number of Dane County students and families experiencing housing instability continues to rise, with more than 2,400 Dane County students identified as experiencing homelessness across the county’s 16 school districts,” Poole said. “In addition, homelessness often looks very different for families than we might expect. For many students, homelessness means doubling up with relatives or friends after losing housing – not sleeping in a shelter or on the street.”
Poole said this creates a significant gap in communities’ safety nets.
“Schools recognize doubled-up students as homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act – a federal law that protects the educational rights of children and youth experiencing homelessness or housing instability – and are responsible for supporting their educational stability,” Poole said.
She said this differs from many housing programs funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which uses a narrower definition of homelessness and may not be available to families who are doubled up.
“That means school staff are often supporting families whose housing needs are real and urgent, but who may not qualify for traditional homelessness services,” Poole said. “Connecting schools with a broad network of community organizations is more important than ever. This resource fair is an opportunity to learn what resources exist, understand where the gaps are, and build relationships that help us connect students and families to support before a temporary housing situation becomes a crisis.”
Poole said in the 2025-26 year, nearly 140 MCPASD students experienced homelessness, an increase from previous years.
“The traditional HUD count doesn't capture the full picture,” Poole said. “Dane County's 2025 Point-in-Time count identified 790 people experiencing homelessness, but that methodology does not include people who are temporarily doubled up with friends or family. Doubling-up – staying with family or friends because of housing loss or economic hardship is – by far the most common form of student homelessness.”
The third annual Homeless Education Network Resource Fair aims to empower school social workers, counselors, psychologists, nurses, and community partners to better serve students experiencing homelessness.
School student services staff who have questions about the resource fair can email Poole at apoole@mcpasd.k12.wi.us.