Increase Identification

The SHQ (Student Housing Questionnaire) Campaign is a collaborative effort between school sites and Homeless Liaison to promote the SHQ form and identify all McKinney Vento families to provide resources that eliminate educational barriers to ensure academic success. 

The informational pages within this toolkit highlight:

• Forms and procedures
• Fillable SHQ form
• Samples of invitations to participate in the campaign
• Scripts with the correct verbiage to confirm families’ current living situation
• Data tables to reference district-wide McKinney-Vento enrollment
• Letters to welcome families into the program

STUDENT HOUSING QUESTIONAIRE CAMPAIGN

Determining eligibility is one the most critical steps, as each student has a unique housing situation; as a result, determinations regarding eligibility and services under McKinney-Vento must be made on a case-by-case basis for each student. Therefore, as a liaison or person in charge, you must follow 3 steps.

1. Gather all the relevant information using a needs assessment.
2. Analyze what you know.
3. Seek consultation as needed.

This information will guide you to determine which students qualify under the McKinney-Vento program.  After gathering this information, you will be looking for students who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.  For example: students who are living in shelters, motels, cars, parks, or other places not meant for human habitation, as well as those who are sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship or unaccompanied youth. It is important to remember that the list provided is only a guide, and more situations exist that meet the criteria than are actually listed.  Once the student has been identified as homeless, the school will determine their eligibility for services under the McKinney-Vento Act.  

DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act grants homeless students several enrollment rights. These include the right to enroll in school immediately, regardless of lacking required documents, and the choice to attend their school of origin or a school within their current attendance area. Schools must provide transportation for homeless students and automatically enroll them in free school meal programs.

Additionally, homeless students have the right to receive academic support services, such as tutoring and counseling, and to keep their homeless status private, with schools required to protect their confidentiality. These enrollment rights help to ensure that homeless students have access to the education and resources necessary for success. To support this, our district requires school operations managers, counselors, and administrators to attend yearly trainings to review and revisit the policies that protect these students. 

Enrollement of Homeless Students

Living conditions for students experiencing homelessness can vary widely and are often characterized by instability and insecurity. To support students facing these conditions our district has provided support to students and families. The following page details some of the ways we support families. 

Living Conditions