A McKinney-Vento subgrant program wants to use their funding, in part, to buy a washer and dryer. They will use that equipment in an after-school program to teach students who have left home (often due to parental substance abuse), how to wash their own clothes. This will provide a life skill along with providing clean clothes for students who are being bullied and often not attending school currently for hygiene issues. Can McKinney-Vento funds pay for the washer and dryer?

Answer: Yes. This could fit under several allowable uses found in 42 USC 11433(d):

“(7) The provision of services and assistance to attract, engage, and retain homeless children and youths, particularly homeless children and youths who are not enrolled in school, in public school programs and services provided to nonhomeless children and youths.” (The students are not coming to school due to hygiene and bullying)

“(12) The provision of specialized instructional support services (including violence prevention counseling) and referrals for such services.” (teaching how to wash, how to cook, etc.. The inclusion of “violence prevention counseling” as a specific example shows that the term “specialized instructional support services” is much broader than typical academics or coursework)

“(13) Activities to address the particular needs of homeless children and youths that may arise from domestic violence and parental mental health or substance abuse problems.” (Especially since the students will learn how to wash clothes, which is a skill they are not learning at home due to parental substance abuse)

“(16) The provision of other extraordinary or emergency assistance needed to enable homeless children and youths to attend school and participate fully in school activities.”

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