Over 1.1 million children and youth experience homelessness each year. These children and youth face challenges that include
- a lack of basic necessities (food, clothing, medical services)
- discontinuity of education due to mobility
- trauma caused by poverty and the instability of their circumstances.
Children and youth who are homeless face additional educational challenges when they have disabilities. Increasing compliance with IDEA ensures that children and youth experiencing homelessness with disabilities have access to the services they need to be successful in school and in life. Collaboration across programs can better support children and youth experiencing homelessness.
- Intersection of McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Guidance for districts to ensure students with disabilities who are experiencing homelessness receive the educational services for which they are entitled while complying with both McKinney-Vento and IDEA.
What help is there for help families facing homelessness?
The McKinney-Vento Act is a federal law that gives children and youth experiencing homelessness the right to enroll in school immediately, even without documents normally required for enrollment, and to stay in one school even if they are changing residences.
Every school district has a local homeless education liaison, who must identify and serve children and youth experiencing homelessness. Michigan Department of Education homelessness webpage has information items, as well as local contacts.
- The direct number for the coordinator office in Lansing is 517-241-6974.
- Regional McKinney-Vento Coordinators
- MDE McKinney-Vento Homeless MDE
Learn more:
- Special Education and Homelessness
- National Center for Homeless Education
- National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth
- School House Connections Q & A
- Considerations for Parents Facing Incarceration
Watch and Learn:
from National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth
Looking for Your Future: How Youth Cope with Losing Their Homes, and How Your School Can Help
You Will Get Through It: How Youth Cope with Losing Their Homes, and How Your School Can Help
McKinney-Vento Liaisons: Supporting Students, Schools, and Communities
