McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
In January of 2002, Congress authorized the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to help people experiencing homelessness. The federal law includes the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program that entitles children who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence to a free, appropriate education and requires schools to remove barriers to their enrollment, attendance and success in school. The McKinney-Vento Program meets the needs of homeless students attending Perquimans County Public Schools by addressing academic challenges and family issues affecting their success in school. Under the McKinney-Vento Program, there is no age limit for an unaccompanied homeless or runaway youth as long as the student is eligible for K-12 public education in NC. Schools must immediately alert the School McKinney-Vento Liaison or the District McKinney-Vento Liaison if presented with a possible runaway or unaccompanied homeless youth.
Living situations that may qualify include, but are not limited to:
• Living with a friend, relative or other person/family because of a loss of housing
• Staying in a motel or hotel because of a loss of housing or fleeing domestic violence
• Living in an emergency shelter, transitional housing or domestic violence shelter
• Living in a car, park or public place, abandoned building or bus station
• Living temporarily in substandard housing
• Living in a campground or an inadequate trailer home
• Living in a runaway or homeless youth shelter; run away youth
• Youth living on their own, even if their families want them to come home
Resources
North Carolina Homeless Education Program
Contacts
Dr. Latonia Johnson
District Social Worker/Homeless Liaison
(252)312-4173
Kanika Griffin
Chief Academic Officer of Student Services
(252)426-5741 ext. 230
Lisa Phillips
State Coordinator for Homeless Education
(336)315-7491