Frequently Asked Questions
Question:
Who is homeless?
Answer:
Anyone who, due to lack of housing, lives:
- In a shelter or abandoned in hospitals
- In a motel
- In cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations
- In a campground
- On the street
- Doubled up with relatives or friends due to economic hardship or loss of housing
- Awaiting foster care placement
- Migratory children who qualify as homeless because of any of the above
- Children in foster care placements of less than six months
- Unaccompanied youth not in the company of parents or legal guardians (runaways, abandoned youth, etc.)
Question:
Where can homeless children and youth attend school?
Answer:
- The school in which the child or youth was last enrolled (school of origin).
- The school in the attendance area where the child or youth is temporarily living.
Question:
Can students experiencing homelessness be denied enrollment if the parent/guardian does not have proof of residency?
Answer:
No. The parent/guardian may sign an affidavit stating that the family is staying in temporary accommodations.
Question:
What if the parent/guardian does not have the school records for a child experiencing homelessness?
Answer:
- Ask that the homeless child or youth be enrolled in school until the records arrive.
- Ask that a student’s immunization records be transferred over the phone from the sending school to the receiving school.
- Contact the Berrien County McKinney Project, your school district, principal, counselor, or local homeless education liaison with any concerns.