McKinney-Vento Homeless Education

Homeless Education Services

In 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) strengthened the McKinney-Vento Act’s Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program. McKinney-Vento is designed to provide students experiencing homelessness with resources and protections that remove all educational barriers with emphasis on educational enrollment, attendance, and success.

McKinney-Vento Act

The act’s services include children and youth from birth to 21 years of age that lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence, including those who:

• Share housing with other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason
• Live in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations
• Live in emergency or transitional shelters
• Are abandoned in-hospital
• Have a primary nighttime residence not designed for, or used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings (storage units, garages, etc.)
• Live in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings
• Are migratory children living in the aforementioned circumstances
• Are unaccompanied youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian

Fundraising Campaign

Please help us reach our goal of raising $40,000 to support PSD students and families facing housing insecurity and homelessness. Your generous donation allows the Language, Culture and Equity Department to support these students and families with personal items, temporary shelter, provisions, clothing, etc.

Support Students Experiencing Homelessness -
Donate through SchoolPay

All donations are tax deductible, and an automated email will provide a tax receipt.  

The number of PSD families and youth experiencing homelessness has risen by 10% since last year, and their needs have risen exponentially. Currently, one out of every 27 students is experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity in PSD. Students experiencing homelessness encounter many barriers to their education. The LCE department works to help youth and families overcome these barriers, including transportation, access to extracurricular activities, before and after-school care, and meeting basic needs. This is provided along with case management to help them reach independence.

Thank you for all you do to support our most vulnerable students. 

Number of Students Experiencing Homelessness

Students Experiencing Homelessness Rights:

• Immediate enrollment in school, even if lacking paperwork normally required for enrollment. (i.e., immunizations, proof of residency)
• Attend school in his/her school of origin (if this is requested by the parent and is feasible) or in the school in the attendance area where the family or youth is currently residing
• Receive transportation to his/her school of origin
• Services comparable to those received by housed schoolmates, including transportation and supplemental educational services
• Attend school along with children not experiencing homelessness
• The posting of homeless students' rights in all schools and other places around the community

Helpful Information:

• McBackpack weekend food assistance for hungry students and their families.  Please contact Susan Lind: (970) 488-4859
• FAFSA support is available beginning October 1.
• Higher Education Single Points of Contact (SPOCS) for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth in Transitioning to Higher Education
• 211 Larimer County Your link to community services