Homeless Information

The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children as “individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.” This definition includes (but is not limited to) children who are:

* sharing housing due to economic hardship or loss of housing (e.g. doubled-up)
* living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or campgrounds
* living in emergency or transitional shelters
* sleeping in places unfit for human habitation (e.g. park benches)

* living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, etc * living in one of the above circumstances and who are migratory according to the definition in Section 1309 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [42 U.S.C. § 11434a(2)].

When considering if a student meets the criteria in the definition provided by the law, it is important to remember that the list provided is only a guide, and more situations may exist that meet the criteria than are actually listed. However, liaisons must always rely on the criteria outlined in the law of lacking fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence as the ultimate test of whether a student’s housing meets the definition. For more on the specific nuances related to eligibility criteria for students, see Chapter 4 Determining Eligibility.

Q: What definition of "homeless" applies to this program?

(A) means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence (within the meaning of section 103(a)(1)); and

(B) includes–

(i) children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; or are abandoned in hospitals;*

(ii) children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings (within the meaning of section 103(a)(2)

(C);

(iii) children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and

(iv) migratory children (as such term is defined in section 1309 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965) who qualify as homeless for the purposes of this subtitle because the children are living in circumstances described in clauses (i) through (iii).

*Per Title IX, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act, “awaiting foster care placement” was removed from the definition of homeless on December 10, 2016; the only exception to his removal is that “covered states” have until December 10, 2017 to remove “awaiting foster care placement” from their definition of homeless.

Homeless Coordinator

Megan McDonald

724-785-5800 x2416

Washington County Homeless Resources

Shelter Listing:

https://www.shelterlistings.org/county/pa-washington-county.html

https://www.shelterlist.com/city/pa-washington

https://www.yellowpages.com/washington-pa/women-homeless-shelters

Washington County Department of Human Services:

https://www.washingtoncountyhumanservices.com/agencies/housing-homeless-s

Homeless Assistance Program Contact List

https://www.dhs.pa.gov/contact/Pages/Homeless-Assistance-Contacts.aspx