NCJ Number
206623
Journal
Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law & Policy Volume: 11 Issue: 2 Dated: 2004 Pages: 283-319
Date Published
2004
Length
37 pages
Annotation
This study examined the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
Abstract
Communities and school systems are working together to learn to meet the challenges of educating children and youths experiencing homelessness. Stories of collaboration among dedicated school personnel and community groups on the subject of homeless education are taking place all around the country. Family homelessness is a social and economic phenomenon that only exploded onto the American scene in the past 25 years. During the 1990’s, approximately 1.35 million children were homeless throughout the course of each year. In 1996, the majority of these children, 62 percent, were 8 years of age or younger. In response to this unprecedented problem, the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act states that homeless children must receive an equitable level and quality of services provided to other children, including educational services. In the 1980’s family homelessness began to emerge with the rise of housing costs and the fall of real wages. The primary causes of family homelessness are: the lack of safe and affordable housing, decline in real wages, cuts in social welfare programs, lack of Federal assistance, and eroding work opportunities. At the end of the 1980’s, women and children compromised up to 50 percent of the homeless population. Over the past two decades the unemployment rate averaged 6.5 percent. Homeless children and youths are among the most vulnerable of all the disadvantaged people. Homeless children and youths experience health disparities, emotional distress, and residential disparity. The National Coalition for the Homeless estimates that more than 40 percent of homeless youths are not enrolled in school. The McKinney-Vento Homeless Act requires that all school districts in States that receive McKinney-Vento grants first must appoint a homeless liaison, secondly are required to expedite enrollment of homeless children, and third allow parents the right to choose the school attended defined as “ the school the child or youth attended when permanently housed.” This study found the McKinney-Vento Assistance Act to be a good law that will not be effective unless there are funding changes that turn it into effective education. Congress needs to act more quickly in providing Federal funding in order to battle the ever-increasing problem of homelessness. 1 Table