In January of 2002, Congress authorized the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to assist families and youth experiencing homelessness. This Act entitles children who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence to a free, appropriate education and requires schools to remove barriers to their enrollment, attendance and success in school. The McKinney-Vento Program meets the needs of homeless students attending Durham Public Schools by addressing academic challenges and family issues affecting their success in school. Example living situations that may qualify include, but are not limited to:
Living with a friend, relative or other person/family because of a loss of housing
Staying in a motel or hotel because of a loss of housing or fleeing domestic violence
Living in an emergency shelter, transitional housing or domestic violence shelter
Living in a car, park or public place, abandoned building or bus station
Living temporarily in substandard housing
Living in a campground or an inadequate trailer home
Living in a runaway or homeless youth shelter
Youth living on their own, even if their families want them to come home
The McKinney-Vento Program also meets the needs of "a youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian" (42 USC §11434a(6), 2001). Youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian andlacking a fixed, regular and adequate residence are referred to as unaccompanied homeless youth. Youth who run away are also eligible for services even if the parent/guardian/caregiver wishes the student to return home. Some reasons a youth may be on his/her own include, but is not limited to, family dysfunction, parental neglect and abuse (emotional, physical, sexual, or substance), incarceration, illness and deportation. Runaway youth and unaccompanied homeless youth are eligible to be enrolled immediately without a legal guardian. Under the McKinney-Vento Program, there is no age limit for an unaccompanied homeless or runaway youth as long as the student is eligible for K-12 public education in NC. Schools must immediately alert the School Social Worker or the District McKinney-Vento Liaison if presented with a possible runaway or unaccompanied homeless youth.
Requesting Services: If you feel that you or your family may qualify for McKinney-Vento Services, please contact LaKeisha Thomas, GSA McKinney-Vento Liaison at 984-209-5888 or [email protected].