McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
Why the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act matters for students CST serves:
Recent data shows that students are experiencing homelessness at a greater level than ever before. There’s been a steady increase across the country and the numbers continue to trend upwards.
The data includes those who have housing instability, are living in temporary housing situations, might be “doubled-up” by sharing a residence with other families or are without a permanent residence and considered homeless.
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act was signed into federal law in 1987 and has been reauthorized several times, most recently in 2015 by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
Known as “McKinney-Vento” the Act helps children and youth who are experiencing homelessness get an education. It also provides funding for shelters who serve unhoused youth.
The Act does a number of things including:
Ensures students have access to free and appropriate public education
Requires schools to remove barriers to enrollment and attendance for students
Provides federal funding to states to support programming
The Act applies to children and youth who don’t have a fixed, regular or adequate nighttime housing or those who are sharing housing with others. They may live in shelters, motels or in unsheltered locations.
Research shows that students who don’t have adequate housing or are experiencing homelessness have higher rates of chronic absenteeism, have lower academic performance and lower graduation rates. Additionally, they face other obstacles including finding adequate nutrition, access to necessary support services and mental health challenges.
