In January of 2002, Congress authorized the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to help people experiencing homelessness. This federal law includes the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program that entitles children who are homeless to a free, appropriate public education and requires schools to remove barriers to their enrollment, attendance, and success in school. This Act protects all students who do not have a fixed, regular and adequate residence, such as students living in the following situations:
- doubled-up housing with other families or friends due to hardship;
- runaway/homeless youth shelters (even if parents invite the youth home);
- hotels or motels;
- shelters, including domestic violence shelters;
- transitional housing shelters;
- cars, abandoned buildings parks, the streets or other public spaces;
- campgrounds or inadequate trailer homes
- abandoned in a hospital.
Cleveland County Schools Data:
- 2021-2022: 349
- 2020-2021: 312
- 2019-2020: 211
- 2019-2018: 337
In 2021-2022, 34 students were unaccompanied homeless youth and 44 individuals were younger siblings not enrolled in school.
In 2020-2021, 56 students were unaccompanied homeless youth and 36 individuals were younger siblings not enrolled in school.
State-level data can be reviewed at:
Additional Information:
- If you are struggling with a housing crisis (i.e., you live in a motel or shelter, are living in someone else's home, on the street, etc.), please contact your School Social Worker or
CCS Liaison, Sandy Hamrick at 704-476-8000 or
Email address: [email protected]
Lisa Phillips, State Coordinator for Homeless Education
SERVE Center at UNCG
Website: https://hepnc.uncg.edu