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Sixth in a series of Research-to-Impact briefs by Chapin Hall, Missed Opportunities in Youth Pathways Through Homelessness reflects findings from in-depth interviews conducted with 215 young people in the largest qualitative study on youth homelessness in the U.S.

From young people in five U.S. counties, we learned that their stories of homelessness most often began with early housing instability and family disruptions, including family homelessness and entrance into foster care. Young people also experienced significant personal losses before and during their pathways through homelessness, including the death of parents and caregivers. Furthermore, youth cycled between many types of sleeping arrangements: from being on the street, to couch surfing, to staying in shelters. Their experience was influenced both by their personal relationships and whether they had someone to stay with, and structural factors, such as the availability of shelter beds. By identifying the common experiences that lead to homelessness, we also identify where, when, and with whom we need to intervene to prevent homelessness.

Download the full brief (PDF)

Download the overview (PDF)

Featured research from SchoolHouse Connection

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) was first developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1990 to assess the health risk behaviors of youth and adults in the United States. In 2017 the YRBS included two optional questions pertaining to homelessness. SchoolHouse Connection analyzed demographic and risk factor data from the 2017 YRBS in 17 states, comparing high school students experiencing homelessness and those not experiencing homeless, and developed six reports about risk factors and suggested action steps for schools. North Carolina is one of the 17 states included in the analysis of the 2017 YRBS data.

Student Homelessness: Lessons from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)

• Part I: Prevalence, Identification, and Action Steps for Schools
• Part II: Racial and Ethnic Equity: Disproportionality and Action Steps for Schools
• Part III: Sexual Orientation Equity: Disproportionality and Action Steps for Schools
• Part IV: Vulnerability of Different Homeless Situations
• Part V: Missing School Due to Safety Concerns
• Part VI: Suicide

News reports indicate that a large number of our districts could be impacted by Hurricane Dorian. Damaging winds, structural damage, flooding and storm damage may occur. Because of the potential threat to North Carolina, I would like to remind you of the immediate requirements in identifying and serving homeless students in our schools as well as resources that are available for working with students, families and the community after a natural disaster occurs.

Please keep in mind that a child who is displaced after a natural disaster, including those students and their families who have temporarily relocated to North Carolina, will generally meet the definition of “homeless” under the federal McKinney-Vento Act. The law entitles them to immediate enrollment in the school district in which they are physically present without having to document residency in the district. In addition, those students who are identified are also eligible for free meals.

As the homeless liaison, remember that you are required to document all students experiencing homelessness in PowerSchool, and in addition, maintain a list using the “LEA Disaster Tracking Log” of those students that are specifically displaced because of the natural disaster. This list is to be shared with your Superintendents, School Nutrition Administrators, and other Administration, as appropriate. You will also need to maintain the list in your McKinney-Vento records for future requests from my office.

School Nutrition Services encourages the homeless liaisons to reach out directly to their School Nutrition Directors at the local level to discuss the individual or collective needs or homeless students. The website that includes the local contacts is located at: https://childnutrition.ncpublicschools.gov/who-we-are/sfa_directories/school-food-authority-sfa-directories . If you have additional questions or challenges, please call the School Nutrition Services office at (919 807-3506) or the State Coordinator for Homeless Education at 336-315-7491.

The National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) has a comprehensive web page devoted to “Disaster Preparation and Response”. There, you will find NCHE resources; federal resources; sample forms, materials and policies; resources for coping with a disaster, as well as other resources. Additionally, SchoolHouse Connection has released the brief, “Supporting Children and Youth Displaced by Disasters: Five Key Policies for Schools”.

Finally, please reach out to our office for any additional questions or supports you may need before or after the storm. We are here to assist you in any way.

NCHEP held its annual Feed the Children distribution on Friday, March 29, 2019. This year’s distribution was earmarked for LEAs impacted by hurricanes Florence and Michael during 2018. Over $88,000 in backpacks, school supplies, books, and other educational materials was distributed to 21 LEAs and two Migrant Education programs. Peggy Owens, homeless liaison for Hoke County Schools, hosted the event.

Dr. Johnnye Waller has been named North Carolina’s 2018 Homeless Liaison of the Year by Lisa Phillips State Coordinator for The North Carolina Homeless Education Program (NCHEP).

Dr. Waller’s work on the homeless program is to be lauded. In addition to ensuring that the requirements of the McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth Assistance act – the primary piece of federal legislation dealing with homeless education – are implemented throughout Lee County, she also contributes to the development of supplementary grants and works with community partners to provide resources such as tutoring and school supplies to homeless children, of which Lee County has more than 300.

Dr. Waller oversees Project Lift Off, a project funded through a McKinney-Vento sub-grant administered by the State, which serves students who are in transition or at risk of being in transition, with a more structured learning environment during the summer months.

“I am not in this by myself,” said Dr. Waller, who as Lee County Schools’ assistant superintendent of auxiliary services and director of student services oversees the district’s homeless program. “This is a recognition of the district’s dedication and commitment to the issue of homelessness, and I am just the one that got named.”

It’s that type of combined effort – as well as the number of people from across North Carolina Dr. Waller meets who are working just as passionately on the same issue – which makes her reiterate her position that the award isn’t about her.

“Part of being the homeless liaison is attending the training opportunities, where you get to learn about the things that are happening in other districts and see what you can take home,” she said. “Every time I go to one, I meet new people and I learn about new approaches and things we can do to make sure our students in transition get every opportunity to succeed.”

Excerpted from INSPIRED of Lee County Schools.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released the results of a study on food insecurity among college students in a new report, Food Insecurity: Better Information Could Help Eligible College Students Access Federal Food Assistance Benefits.

Increasing evidence indicates that some college students are experiencing food insecurity, which can negatively impact their academic success. However, college students are only eligible for SNAP in certain cases. Given the substantial federal investment in higher education and the risk posed if students do not complete their degrees, GAO was asked to review food insecurity among college students.

The report examines:

1. what is known about the extent of food insecurity among college students and their use of SNAP;
2. how selected colleges are addressing student food insecurity; and
3. the extent to which federal programs assist students experiencing food insecurity. GAO reviewed relevant federal laws and agency documents and studies on student food insecurity; analyzed 2016 federal student data (the most recent available), and visited four states, selected based on actions taken to address student food insecurity, geographic diversity, and other factors. GAO interviewed researchers; officials from Education, FNS national and regional offices; and officials at 14 colleges, including students at 8 of these colleges. GAO also emailed all state SNAP agencies about their efforts related to students.

To find out what the GOA Recommends and to download a summary of the findings or the full report, visit the Food Insecurity: Better Information Could Help Eligible College Students Access Federal Food Assistance Benefits web page.

Sesame Street launches a new initiative to explores the challenges young students experiencing homelessness face, with the character Lily.

Visit the Sesame Street in Communities website for additional information, videos, and resources.

Read about the Sesame Street initiative in this New York Times article.

Visit SchoolHouse Connection for some suggested tip sheets organized by roles that can help providers utilize the Sesame Street resources.

See what’s new from the Office of the State Coordinator. Read about the most recent federal and state McKinney-Vento updates.

Local liaisons are required to display posters or brochures on McKinney-Vento rights in places all schools in the district and throughout the community.

Order hard copies of NCHEP posters for your school and community:

• Go to the online order form.

Download PDF version of each poster:

• Information for Parents (Bilingual: English/Spanish)
• Information for School-Aged Youth (Bilingual: English/Spanish)

Project HOPE 2018 Graduation Dinner

Each year Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (W-S/FCS) graduates approximately 3,700 seniors out of 17 high schools in Forsyth County. This year Project HOPE, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools’ homeless education program, had the honor of assisting 16 seniors during the 2017-1018 school year by removing barriers such as ensuring students had transportation to and from school, paying senior fees and eliminating any additional barriers that would prevent students experiencing homelessness from graduating. None of this could happen without the support of our community agencies, partnerships with businesses and churches, which unequivocally collaborated with Project HOPE in meeting the needs of students experiencing homelessness.

For the past five years, typically in May, Sedge Garden United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem has provided seniors in our program with an abundance of gifts, fellowship and a casual sit-down dinner, along with a mock graduation ceremony. This experience has allowed the seniors in our program to meet other students experiencing homelessness, share how their senior year has been, and fellowship with Project HOPE staff, along with the members of Sedge Garden United Methodist Church.

The “Senior Dinner” continues to be one the most important recognition events Project HOPE provides every school year. We continue to look forward to collaborating with Sedge Garden United Methodist Church in touching the hearts and lives of seniors experiencing homelessness.

Story and photos submitted by Tammi O’Quinn, Homeless Liaison for Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools