Student Support Services » Homeless

Homeless

Education for Homeless Youth

 

In 1987, Congress passed the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, (subsequently renamed the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act) to aid homeless persons.  The Act defines the term “homeless children and youths” as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

 

A student may qualify for certain rights and protections under the federal McKinney-Vento Act if he/she is living in any of the following situations:

 

  •       a shelter
  •       a motel or campground due to the lack of an alternative adequate accommodation
  •       a car, park, or abandoned building
  •       doubled up with other people due to loss of housing or economic hardship

 

Eligible students have the right to:

 

  •       Receive a free, appropriate public education.
  •       Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment.
  •       Enroll in the local school or continue attending the school of origin.
  •       Receive transportation to and from the school of origin.
  •       Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students.

 

Please contact Kurt Nyquist, Director of Student Support Services at 814-422-2000 ext. 2536 or by emailing [email protected] with questions or to find out what services and supports may be available.

Housing Assistance Available Locally:
Housing Transitions-237-4863 and Centre County Housing Case Manager-237-1944  
Centre County Women's Resource Center - 234-5222
Centre County Youth Service Bureau - 237-5731 Stepping Stone-ages 16-20 with no other living arrangements
Burrowes Street Youth Haven - 234-2100 21 day therapeutic living including intensive reunification efforts with family
Stormbreak 234-2100-dependent or delinquent females ages 11-17 
For more information: Pennsylvania Department of Education:  www.pde.state.pa.us/homeless - click on Homeless Education in left column   

JOIN SESAME STREET FOR A CONVERSATION ON FAMILY HOMELESSNESS

On Thursday, December 13, Sesame Street in Communities will hold an interactive conversation with a panel of expert providers discussing how homelessness affects young children. 
 
SchoolHouse Connection’s Executive Director, Barbara Duffield, an adviser to Sesame Street Workshop, will be on the panel.

Please join the conversation to gain tools and resources to use in your work, and to share the important work that you do with Sesame’s Community.
 
Join via Facebook Live and YouTube Live at 4 p.m. EST on Thursday, December 13.

Invite your friends and colleagues to register!