Causes Poverty Substance Abuse Domestic Violence Mental Illness Affordable Housing Physical Illness Economic crises Impact  Greater absenteeism  Developmental delays 4 times rate reported for housed children  Learning disabilities identified at double the rate  Twice as likely to repeat a grade

8% physically abused (2x) 8% sexually abused (3x) 35% subject of child protection investigation 24% witnessed violence within the family NCFH, 1999 More than 3 times as many homeless children are in households where adults hit and throw things compared to middle class families. NCFH, 2009

how children and adults think, feel, behave, and relate to others. Traumatic stresses are cumulative and increase the risk of developing health, behavioral, and social problems as adults Browne, et al., 2009

50% to 83% of homeless youths have experienced physical or sexual abuse History of physical and sexual abuse is a risk factor for suicide attempts in homeless youths 1 and mental health problems, such as depression, conduct disorder, and trauma symptoms 2

Student Interviews: How do People Become Homeless? | Alliance for Excellent Education

Education for Homeless Children and Youths (EHCY)

School is the most normal activity that most children experience collectively…For homeless children it is much more than a learning environment. It is a place of safety, personal space, friendships, and support. Oakley & King, 2000

An individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including children and youth : sharing housing due to loss of housing or economic hardship living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate housing living in emergency or transitional housi ng

Including children and youth :  abandoned in hospitals  awaiting foster care  having a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, regular sleeping accommodations

 living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations  migratory students meeting the description  unaccompanied youth meeting the description

Appoint a local homeless education liaison in every LEA For Virginia liaisons, visit: Provide outreach and coordination to identify students

Enroll students immediately in local school OR Maintain student enrollment in the school of origin when feasible and in the student’s best interest Includes transportation Even across school division lines Get the student enrolled and keep the student enrolled!

2 million people annually – ½ children 1.5 million children – one in fifty experience homelessness (NCFH) 939,903 in SY , an 18% increase over the three-year period SY NCHE State Profile Pages

PreK-12 – 16,420 PreK – 490 (enrolled) Elementary – 8,574 Middle – 3,250 High –4,106 Hyperlink: NCHE State Profile Pages

45% of children living in homeless shelters in Virginia are under the age of five children under five were reported by VDHCD in emergency, domestic violence and transitional programs for FY 2008

798%increase from to present

NAEHCY – NCHE - NLCHP - NLIHC – Project HOPE-VA: USDE - ml ml HUD -

And miles to go before I sleep; and miles to go before I sleep. Robert Frost HMSE_PICS. mpg

Project HOPE-Virginia The College of William & Mary P. O. Box 8795 Williamsburg, VA (toll free) (fax)