The McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth Assistance Act is a federal law that ensures immediate enrollment and educational stability for homeless children and youth. McKinney-Vento provides federal funding to states for the purpose of supporting district programs that serve homeless students.

Defining Homeless

The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children as "individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence." The act provides examples of children who would fall under this definition:

• Children and youth sharing housing due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason
• Children and youth living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camp grounds due to lack of alternative accommodations
• Children and youth living in emergency or transitional shelters
• Children and youth abandoned in hospitals
• Children and youth whose primary nighttime residence is not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation (e.g. park benches, etc)
• Children and youth living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations
• Migratory children and youth living in any of the above situations
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McKinney-Vento Services

Students who are eligible for McKinney-Vento funds are entitled to receive a variety of services. The primary responsibility of the District Liaison is to eliminate any barriers to the McKinney-Vento student’s right to education and school participation comparable of that of a student who is not homeless. The following are a list of services, which the Liaison will address and are available to the Student:

·         Immediate school enrollment despite missing documentation or records. 

·         Immediate free lunch.

·         Transportation to district school or school of origin either by school bus or Transit pass.

·         The right to attend the school attended prior to being displaced despite “residing” out of the district.

·         Schools supplies and Tutoring referrals

·         School fees waived/paid for with McKinney-Vento funds; ASB card (for those wanting play a sport or need it for another activity: band, choir…etc.), PE attire, library fees or any other fee associated with participating in school-sponsored activities. (Does not include an ASB card to attend games).

·         Counseling and Social Services referrals

·         Clothing Bank (located at the High School in the Business Ed Building, ​BE4​) 

·         Support with the referral process for services such as special Education/Gifted/Talented

·         Assistance with up to the purchase of needed documents (birth certificate, social security cards, medical records, etc.)

·         Community referrals/assistance with: addressing medical issues, applying for DSHS benefits, vocational, technical, after-school programs or any other identified need considered to be a barrier to the student’s education

·         *Seniors-Assistance with applying for college, completing FAFSA, financial assistance with entrance exams and application fees.

·         Other services may be available on a case-by-case basis.

Please contact Brooke Heikkila Special Programs Liaison, at (360) 538-8295 or by email to bheikkila@hoquiam.net to inquire about the program or with questions.