The McKinney-Vento Act defines homelessness as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence often caused by economic hardships or other difficult life circumstances. The definition includes school-age children who:
- Are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; or are abandoned in hospitals;
- Have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as regular sleeping accommodations for human beings;
- Are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and/or
- Migratory children and unaccompanied youth (youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian) may be considered homeless if they meet the above definition of “homeless.”
Homeless status is determined in cooperation with the parent or guardian. In the case of unaccompanied youth, status is determined by the Charter School Liaison.
Students who qualify under the Homeless Education Program have the following rights:
- Immediate Enrollment
- Rights to remain in school of origin/feeder school
- Transportation Support
- Free and Reduced Lunch
- Homeless Liaison Support
- Removal of Barriers to FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education)
- Participate in school programs and activities and receive the same school services that are offered to other children
Educational Rights | English.pdf
Financial Aid for Homeless Youth - English
Financial Aid for Homeless Youth - Spanish
Additional Resources
San Joaquin: San Joaquin County | Community Connections | 2-1-1 San Joaquin
Contra Costa : Resources for Teens and Unaccompanied Youth | 2-1-1 Contra Costa Database
Click here to view Affordable Housing in the Bay Area
Kendall Micco | Homeless Liaison
209-365-4060