Homeless and attending school

NOTES from small group session, Sept. 22, 2016:

• Presenters are 

• Donna Butera & Deborah Dailey, school liaisons to homeless students in Bethel & 4J school districts.  They work to fulfill and ensure compliance with the McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth Assistance Act.

• Paul Neville, Saint Vincent de Paul

• Name one thing you’d like to learn from this session (5 words or less) – People said -

• How to help? 

• How big is the problem? 

• What can we do to help the schools? 

• How to get something like this in Springfield? (It is in Springfield as well)

• Brief overview of MVA & McKinney Liaisons’ work 

• education rights of students who are experiencing homelessness

• Students qualify even when they are bouncing around with friends or family. 

• They work to ensure the students have access and equal opportunities. 

• Where they are allowed to enroll even if they move, free lunches. 

• They work with district staff and families. 

• Also help with supplies and get other assistance from social service agencies.

• Impact of Homelessness on Education 

• Insecurity students feel –big problem. Like they worry about where to do their homework. Very challenging. Liaisons try to work with the school and teachers to be flexible.

• Loss of possessions, friends, belongings, privacy, pets, security – how do they deal with all this loss.

• More illness experienced by these students

• Absenteeism in general is higher.

• Hunger, lack of sleep, dirty laundry –  are all barriers. Explained how some churches help with quarters and laundry soap.  (This idea was well received and some folks in workshop said they would take this idea back to their congregations.)

• Not feeling welcome where they are, stressful environments.

• Some students are resilient and adaptable - depends on personality, circumstances, assets.

• How Many and Where do They Sleep?

• Most are bouncing around, couch surfing, RV’s in someone’s yard. Not always on the street.

• Realities of doubled up  or tripled up, that’s 2 to 3 families living together. Problem is it’s so unstable.

• Numbers:  

• Bethel 527,students served. 

• 811+ in Eugene 4J. 

• There is some overlap in these numbers as students change districts. 

• These numbers out of 16,000 students total. 

• Only 2 % are unhoused and on the street. 

• 80% are doubled up. The rest are in shelters or transitional housing.  

• Lots of people have Section 8 vouchers but there is no availability.  Affordable housing is probably our areas greatest problem. 

• There are a number of estranged youth who have left their families. They present unique problems with absenteeism being greatest problem. They are called Unaccompanied Youth. Last count was 259 in Eugene. This is the population St. Vincent de Paul is addressing. (See 10 below)

• Video Clips 

• Leia and her family (2:29) 

• Dreams & Dusty Roads (3:53)

• Call to Action: Any suggestions for projects you might be interested in undertaking?

• • 15th Night and mentoring, called “navigators”  

  • Schools will vet and train.

• Paul Neville, Public Relations Director for St. Vincent’s:

• SVDP project to create 15 apartments for youth in the church they recently acquired. 

• Social Services will also be provided for the youth. 

• They will be using the same federal law as the school districts (MVA) to provide up to two years of free shelter. 

• They will get referrals from the schools. 

• Realize that 15 apartments is a small dent in the problem. 

• They currently have an employment program. 

• Only requirement is the kids have to stay in school. 

• Oct. 2017 is target for opening.