The Homeless Education Program’s High School Drop In Centers

Believe it or not you probably have homeless students on your campus. Over 3700 Dallas ISD students experienced homelessness during the 2015-2016 academic year. That’s a 20% increase in student homelessness from 2014-15.

Sofa Surfing Couch Hopping

Who is homeless? McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act Says: The term “homeless children and youth” means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

And includes -- Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing Economic hardship, or similar reason.

Living in motels or hotels.

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Living in trailer parks or camping grounds due to lack of alternative accommodations. Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned building, bus stations, hotels or motels and substandard housing.

Signs of homelessness

Changing Schools Frequently

Hygiene issues Wearing the same clothing everyday. Hygiene issues Dirty clothing Lack of change of clothing Tired Irritable Not doing homework Stressed out Change of behavior Lacking school supplies Hygiene issues Wearing the same clothing everyday.

Irritable Stressed

Change of Behavior

Not doing homework

Hungry Tired

Poor Health Lack of Focus

Noticeable change in appearance or attire…

What can I do to help!

Drop-In Centers The goal of the High School Drop-In Center is to meet the needs of transient teens in order for them to attend school regularly by providing them with goods, services, and resources they need to survive from day to day. For a multitude of reasons homeless teens frequently do not self-identify. We hope that by having Drop-In Centers on every high school campus in the district we will be able to identify more students who are not living at home so that we can support them in every way possible for them to attend, succeed and graduate from High School.

The Drop-In Centers The first on campus Drop-In Center started December 1, 2012 at North Dallas High School in a collaborative effort with The Church of the Incarnation, North Dallas High School, Promise House and the Homeless Education Program. It was a Friday morning Drop-In from 7:30-9:00 with coffee, hot chocolate, donuts, a hot breakfast and mentoring provided The Church of the Incarnation. From that successful pilot program at North Dallas High School the Homeless Education Program with Focus on Teens has branched out to provide Drop-In Centers at 9 high schools before the first bell rings once a week.

Drop-In Centers and Focus on Teens Through the Drop In Center the Homeless Education Program provides a “one stop shop” to teens who have nowhere else to turn. The Center provides food, clothing, hygiene items, school supplies, and referrals. These referrals work in partnership with the HEP, the Dallas ISD’s Psychological and Social Services Department, campus staff and with Focus on Teens and include resources and referrals to shelters and for medical and psychological needs.

The Drop-In Centers In addition to the basics of food, clothing and shelter, the Drop In Center also provides many important items that are often overlooked. While seemingly small, these items can mean the difference between a homeless teen dropping out of classes and remaining engaged with his/her peers. Recently, through the Center Focus on Teens has been able to provide discretionary bus passes to students for personal use, a prom dress, a yearbook and a cane for a disabled teen

Displaying a negative 9th Grade 12043 12th Grade 7717 From 9th to 12th grade we lose about 4300 students. The average population of homeless students nationally is 2%. If we are losing some of these students to housing issues we can assume that there are about 80-100 students that we are losing over the four years of high school to homelessness and it’s many issues. These are the students we are trying to reach with our Drop-In Centers. Now we need your help.

The Homeless Education Program Is: Mark Pierce Mahoganie Gaston Floricel Castaneda Daisy Esquival Paula Ramos Aleyda Suarez You can reach us at 972-749-5789 Or email us at Mpierce@dallasisd.org