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Students Experiencing Homelessness McKinney-Vento Act

In transition? Unstable housing situation?

Let us connect you with the support to keep your education on track. Hardships happen, and the M​cKinney  -Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act, a federal law, ensures immediate enrollment and educational stability for homeless children and youth. Our district-appointed liaisons are here to facilitate, locate and assist our families and students who find themselves needing support during these difficult moments to continue receiving the highest standards of education.​​

Do You...

  • ​Live in a shelter, motel or campground?
  • Live doubled-up with other people or couch-surfing?
  • Live in a car, park or abandoned building?

Get covered in three simple step​s

  1. TALK to your school counselor. Your school counselor will complete an intake form which will identify your student's needs and any community resources available to you
  2. CONTACT Shannon Forslund, McKinney-Vento Liaison at forslsa@puyallup.k12.wa.us, 253-435-6607 for any additional resource assistance 

Under the McKin​ney-Vento Act you have a right to an education without barriers, which means you can:

  • Receive a free public education
  • Enroll in school immediately, even if you lack documents normally required for enrollment
  • Attend classes while the school gathers your missing documents
  • Enroll in the school closest to you or the school you were last enrolled in (school of origin), even if you have been forced to relocate
  • Receive transportation to and from your school of origin
  • Receive all the same educational services other students receive, even if you can't pay
  • Participate in before and after school programs
  • Receive counseling
  • Receive free breakfast and lunch
  • Participate in special education, bilingual vocational and gifted programs as qualified
  • Receive school supplies
  • Receive extra academic support through Title I funding
  • Receive evaluation for any disabilities

Do you qualify for McKinney-Vento Support?

​​​The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children as "individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence." The act provides examples of children who fall under this definition as:

  • Children and youth sharing housing due to loss of housing, economic hardship or similar reason
  • Children and youth living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camp grounds due to lack of alternative accommodations
  • Children and youth living in emergency or transitional shelters
  • Children and youth abandoned in hospitals
  • Children and youth whose primary nighttime residence is not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodations (e.g. park benches, etc.)
  • Children and youth living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations
  • Migratory children and youth living in any of the above situations.​

 

Utility, Child Care, Food & Housing Assistance

Utility Assistance
Childcare Resources
Food Assistance
Housing Assistance

Contact Info

For more information, contact your school counselor.

Shannon Forslund
McKinney-Vento Liaison 
253-435-6607.