Michele Kruithoff

 As of Monday, April 25 –  37,042 in shelters  8,681 single adults  25,645 with families  Nearly 1 in 20 NYC residents have experienced homelessness at some point  1 in 4 children in NYC live in poverty  *Remember – this is not counting those living on the streets!

 An unaccompanied youth is a student who is not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian; this includes youth who have run away from home, have been kicked out of their homes, or have been abandoned by parents. The students lack a fixed, adequate and regular nighttime residence. These youth are covered by the McKinney Vento Act.

 a. Remain in school of origin for the duration of the student’s homelessness  b. Receive transportation to and from school  c. Immediate enrollment in a new school even if records are absent such as immunization records or transcripts  d. Give various services  Problem: Are the students aware of their rights?

 a. Lack of shelter/stability  b. Language barrier  c. Lack of support from home  d. Bullying  e. Employment strains  f. Family obligations  g. Poor grades/cannot graduate on time  h. Drug/alcohol abuse

50 girls between the ages of 18-21currently living in homeless shelter surveyed:  30 have a high school diploma  6 have a GED  5 are currently enrolled in GED preparation  9 are not currently pursuing HSD or GED  They were given a list of factors that they experienced in while they were in school.

 Situation to consider: One client, a 20 year old female, has been in and out of the shelter system since she was 16. She experienced sexual abuse at the hand of her mother’s boyfriend, whom her mother is still with. She had a full time job while she was in school and also helped take care of her younger siblings. She received her high school diploma on time and is now on her way towards being independent. Would you be able to complete school with all these factors?

Signs to look out for:  Gaps in skill development  Poor organizational skills  Poor ability to conceptualize  Erratic absences and tardiness  Lack of participation in trips/after school activities  Inability to contact parents  Poor personal hygiene  Chronic hunger  Fatigue  Inconsistent grooming  Anxiety toward the end of the day  Aggression

 National Center for Homeless Education says:  Make all students feel welcome  Refer the student to after-school tutoring  Keep snacks on hand in the classroom  Provide classroom supplies  Coordinate a plan with school counselor  Don’t bring attention to them in front of others  Hold the child accountable for what they can control; not for what is out of their control