The McKinney-Vento Assistance Act provides certain rights and protections for families experiencing homelessness. According to McKinney-Vento, anyone who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence is considered homeless.
Homelessness includes anyone:
· Living in an emergency shelter.
- Abandoned in hospitals or in foster care.
- Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or campgrounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations.
- Living in cars, parks, public spaces, bus or train stations or similar settings.
- “Doubled up” living with friends or family due to the loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason.
- “Unaccompanied youth”, under the age of 18, living without a parent or guardian.
- Migratory children living in these conditions.
Homeless children have the right to attend school where they live, or continue school where they became homeless, and to receive necessary supplies and transportation for free. They have a right to receive free breakfast and lunch programs and before- or after-school tutoring with free transportation to those schools offering these services.
For further information, to make referrals, or if you have questions regarding services for families experiencing homelessness, please call Tanya Collins, ISAAC’s Associate Principal and Homeless Liaison, at 860-447-1003 x105 or email at tcollins@isaacschool.org.
