Services for Homeless Students/Fragile Families

A homeless student is one who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. This includes students who are staying in transitional or emergency shelters, campgrounds, or motels; sharing housing with other families due to a loss of housing or an inability to afford housing; awaiting foster care, abandoned in a hospital, staying in a substandard housing or living in places not ordinarily used for sleeping; and students who have run away or have been thrown out of their homes.

Homeless students are automatically eligible to participate in the school meals program, instructional services through Title I, and other district services intended to support academic success such as tutoring and transportation to the school of best interest. Please contact the High School office (573-246-2576) for further information.

Program Services Include

• Services and supports available to students and their families so that every child achieves to their potential.

• Immediate enrollment in school and removal of barriers to enrollment and participation – for example, obtaining replacement birth certificates and immunization records.

• Transportation to and from school. Transportation is also available for families to attend conferences and school events.

• School supplies, backpacks, school clothes and other daily living items.

Program Contacts

• Identify and meet the needs of students in homeless situations to maximize their success in school and minimize disruption of their education.

• Provide support and resources, including transportation, to maintain consistency and continuity in the educational process for students in homeless circumstances.

• Provide full access to educational programs and opportunities for homeless students in homeless situations

• Engage parents and other adult caretakers in supporting the educational success of students in homeless situations.

• Coordinate services and supports for homeless students with community agencies and neighboring school districts.

Who Can We Help?

Children and youth in temporary housing situations may be eligible for services and have certain legal rights if they are:

• Living with a friend, relative or someone else because they lost their home or can’t afford a home, or are runaways*

• Staying in a motel or hotel*

• Living in an emergency or transitional shelter or a domestic violence shelter

• Staying in substandard housing*

• Living in a car, park, public place, abandoned building or bus or train station

• Awaiting foster care placement

• Living in a campground or an inadequate trailer home

• Abandoned in a hospital

• Living in a runaway or homeless youth shelter.

Note: *Consideration of each individual case, along with the permanency of the situation, may be needed to determine if students in these circumstances are homeless.

Other Ways to Help:

• Become mentors for homeless children and youth – make a BIG difference in the life of a child for as little as 30 minutes a week!

• Participate in back-to-school efforts and holiday giving.

• Contact the principal at your neighborhood school to identify school needs.

• Partner with community organizations to serve homeless families.

• Advocate for affordable housing in our community.

• Spread the word about educational rights for homeless students.