Chapter 33 of Iowa Administrative Code defines “Homeless child or youth” as a child or youth from the age of 3 years through 21 years who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and includes the following:

1.A child or youth who is sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; is living in a motel, hotel, trailer park, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; is living in an emergency or transitional shelter; is abandoned in a hospital; or is awaiting foster care placement;

2.A child or youth who has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designated for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;

3.A child or youth who is living in a car, park, public space, abandoned building, substandard housing, bus or train station, or similar setting; or

4.A migratory child or youth who qualifies as homeless because the child or youth is living in circumstances described in paragraphs “1” through “3” above.

The following link to the Iowa Code provides further information as to who is considered homeless and what educational rights are to be provided according to Chaper 33, Education for Homeless, Iowa Administrative Code.

Every Iowa public school district is required to have a liaison for homeless students.

Local Homeless Liaison

Julie Hansel
6-12 School Counselor
jhansel@claytonridge.k12.ia.us
563-252-2341

State Coordinator for Homeless Education

Carolyn Cobb
Iowa Department of Education
carolyn.cobb@iowa.gov
515-402-2736

National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE)

NCHE is a technical assistance center in support of the homeless education community nationwide. NCHE is funded through the U.S. Department of Education and is housed at the SERVE Center at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

https://nche.ed.gov/

Toll-free Helpline: 800-308-2145