1. Homelessness….
” A Revolving
Doors
Phenomenon”…

2. Homelessness: A fringe issue?
Many people view homelessness as a fringe issue, affecting only
“certain kinds of people” on the edges of society. This view does
not reflect the changing demographics of homelessness in the
United States, including a steady rise in homelessness among
families with children. Consider the following questions:
 Could you ever experience a flood, fire, tornado, or other
natural disaster?
 Do you work in an area of the economy where your job might
become obsolete?
 Could you ever suffer from a long-term illness or accident
without proper health benefits or other compensations?
 Do you live in a household with only one full-time wage earner?
 Are you behind on any monthly bills?
 Are housing costs in your area increasing faster than wages?
 Does anyone in your family struggle with addiction or mental
illness?
 Could you ever face extreme financial difficulty without family
or close friends available to come to your aid?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you are not
immune to homelessness. These questions are not meant to
create alarm, but rather to spread awareness that people
experiencing homelessness are people just like us. They desire
financial stability and a secure home, but have confronted difficult
circumstances without sufficient resources to overcome the
situation and remain housed .

3. Homeless…What does it mean?
Children who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate
nighttime residence—
-Sharing the housing of others due to loss of
housing, economic hardship, or similar reason
-Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping
grounds due to lack of adequate alternative
accommodations
-Living in emergency or transitional
shelters
-Abandoned in hospitals
Awaiting foster care placement
Living in a public or private place not
designed for humans to live
Living in cars, parks, abandoned
buildings, bus or train stations, etc.
Migratory children living in
above circumstances

4. Causes of
Homelessness
Health Domestic
Problems Violence
Natural &
Deep Poverty
Other Disasters
Lack of Causes of Abuse/Neglect
Affordable (Unaccompanied Youth)
Housing Homelessness

5. Immediate
Enrollment
Provide MVA
education and Attend School of
rights Origin
information
Mckinney-Vento Act
Federal Homeless
Assistance with
medical / mental Education Legislation: Transportation
health resources
and referrals Student Rights Resources
Access to
Eliminate
Educational and
Barriers
Other Services
A safe, stable, and
supportive school Advocacy!!!
environment.

6. Barriers to Education for
Homeless Children and
Youth
Enrollment High mobility
requirements resulting in Lack of
(school Lack of Poor Prejudice &
lack of school Lack of school
records, immuniz access to health, fatigue, misunderstanding
stability & transportation supplies, clot
ations, proof of programs hunger
educational hing, etc.
residency, & continuity
guardianship)

7. Challenges faced by homeless students:
High Precarious
Living Poverty
Mobility
Conditions
Significant
Educational, Health,
and Emotional
Difficulties
• At least 20% of homeless children do not attend school.
• Within a year, 41% of homeless children will attend two
different schools, 28% of homeless children will attend three
or more different schools.
• With each change in schools, a student is set back
academically by an average of four to six months.
• Children experiencing homelessness often feel like outsiders
and have difficulty maintaining friendships due to frequent
moves. Their lives feel out of control, and they often
experience anxiety and depression as a result.
• Many homeless children lack basic school supplies and a
reasonable environment in which to do homework.
• Unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness confront
these and other challenges associated with homelessness
without the support and guidance of a caring adult.

8. Common Signs of Homelessness
Lack of continuity in Education Social and Behavioral Concerns
 Attendance at many different schools • A marked change in behavior
 Lack of records needed to enroll • Poor/short attention span
 Inability to pay fees • Poor self-esteem
 Gaps in skill development • Extreme shyness
 Mistaken diagnosis of abilities • Unwillingness to risk forming relationships
 Poor organization skills with peers and teachers
 Poor ability to conceptualize • Difficulty socializing at recess
• Difficulty trusting people
• Aggression
Poor Health/Nutrition • “Old” beyond years
 Lack of immunizations and/or • Protective of parents
immunizations records • Clinging behavior
 Unmet medical and dental needs • Developmental delays
 Respiratory problems • Fear of abandonment
 Skin rashes • School phobia (student wants to be with
 Chronic hunger (may hoard food) parent)
 Fatigue (may fall asleep in class) • Anxiety late in the school day
Transportation and Attendance Problems Poor Hygiene
• Erratic attendance and tardiness • Lack of shower facilities/washers, etc.
• Numerous absences • Wearing same clothes for several days
• Lack of participation in after-school • Inconsistent grooming
activities
• Lack of participation in field trips
• Inability to contact parents
Reaction/Statements by Parent, Guardian, or
Child
Lack of Personal Space After School • Exhibiting anger or embarrassment when asked
• Consistent lack of preparation for about current address
school • Mention of staying with grandparents, other
• Incomplete or missing homework (no relatives, friends, or in a motel, or
place to work or keep supplies) comments, such as “I don’t remember the
• Unable to complete special projects (no name of the last school.”
access to supplies) • “We’ve been moving around a lot.”
• Lack of basic school supplies • “Our address is new; I can’t remember it”
• Loss of books and other supplies on a • “We’re staying with relatives until we get
regular basis • settled.”
• Concern for safety of belongings • “We’re going through a bad time.”
Note: While these are considered common signs, please recognize that they only offer general guidance. There is
significant variability within the school-age homeless population. Individual students may differ significantly from the
following general characteristics. (www.serve.org/nche)

9. Quick Tips: 10 Things Teachers Can Do To Help
Homeless Students
Help homeless Keep needed
students make toiletry items on
plans for
Make the transportation for
hand to assist the
student in
student feel after-school maintaining proper
welcome. activities or other hygiene.
special events.
Ask your School
Social Work
Select a student about resources
Keep a supply of
to be their for your
nutritional snacks
“buddy” on the students who
in your room.
first day of class. may be MVA
eligible.
Provided any
Refer student to tools/supplies
tutoring or other necessary to complete
educational any required task.
resources if needed. Supplies may not be
readily available to
the student.
Coordinate an
educational Give the student a
plan for the clipboard to take
student with home and use as a
the school portable desk for
counselor. doing homework.

10. “…Through it all, school is
probably the only thing that has
kept me going. I know that every
day that I walk in those doors, I
can stop thinking about my
problems for the next six hours
and concentrate on what is most
important to me. Without the
support of my school system, I
would not be as well off as I am
today. School keeps me motivated
to move on, and encourages me to
find a better life for myself.”
Carrie Arnold, LeTendre Scholar, 2002

11. Westley Wood - Director of Homeless Education
(336) 667-1121)
Frieda Howard - Homeless Education Liaison
(336) 667-1121)
Lisa Phillips - State Coordinator for Homeless Education
(336) 315-7491
Angel Bell • *East Wilkes High, *East Wilkes
Middle, *Roaring River Elementary, *Ronda
East District
Clingman Elementary, *C.B. Eller
bella@wilkes.k12.nc.us Elementary, *C.C. Wright Elementary
Billie Howell • *West Wilkes High, *West Wilkes
Middle, *Millers Creek Elementary, *Mt.
West District
Pleasant Elementary, *North Wilkesboro
howellb@wilkes.k12.n.cus Elementary, *Wilkes Early College High
Regina Brown • *North Wilkes High School, *North Wilkes
North District Middle School, *Traphill Elementary, *Mountain
brownreg@wilkes.k12.nc.us View Elementary, *Mulberry Elementary
Whitney Morrow • *Wilkes Central High, *Central Wilkes Middle,
Central District *Wilkesboro Elementary, *Moravian Falls
morroww@wilkes.k12.nc.us Elementary, *Boomer Ferguson Elementary
For school contact information, please call WCS or visit:
http://www.wilkes.k12.nc.us/schools.html