West Virginia lawmakers can pass simple, proven policies to help more than 15,000 students experiencing homelessness stay in school and succeed.
See the Unseen 15K West Virginia Homeless Youth
Take Action: Support West Virginia Homeless Students
West Virginia can join dozens of states removing barriers for homeless students by:
1. Removing a major barrier to stability—allowing unaccompanied homeless youth to access free state IDs, driver’s licenses, and birth certificates—a low-cost step that supports economic development and helps reduce homelessness.
2. Strengthening and properly resourcing school homeless liaisons through dedicated county homeless education coordinators.
Take Action: Urge your legislators to support these policies
🔍 Use this tool to find out if your Senator is on the Senate Education Committee.
Use our ☎️ phone script and 🧑💻 email template below!
📬 Share this page with colleagues, advocates, and community leaders.
🤝 Partner with SchoolHouse Connection to help every child and youth access opportunity. Contact us to get involved.
Use These Messages to Take Action
Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I’m calling to ask Senator [Last Name] to support legislation that helps students experiencing homelessness succeed in school and work.
Homeless education coordinators are essential to keeping students experiencing homelessness enrolled, on track to graduate, and prepared for the workforce. They help address barriers to attendance and transportation. Liaisons also connect students experiencing homelessness to basic supports like health care, food, clothing and vital documents, like birth certificates.
I urge Senator [Last Name] to support SB947 that provides youth experiencing homelessness access to birth certificates at no cost, and SB442/HB4544 that strengthens the role of homeless education coordinators and removes barriers for students experiencing homelessness.
Thank you for your time and leadership on behalf of West Virginia’s youth.
Find your SenatorSubject: Please Support Students Experiencing Homelessness
Dear Senator [Last Name],
I’m writing to urge you to support legislation that improves outcomes for students experiencing homelessness by improving access to vital documents and strengthening the role of school homeless education coordinators.
Homeless education coordinators in public schools are essential for identifying and supporting students experiencing homelessness. They help remove barriers to enrollment, attendance, graduation, and workforce participation. This includes helping them access vital documents, like birth certificates.
Supporting SB947 would help improve access to birth certificates at no cost to youth experiencing homelessness. Additionally, passing legislation such as SB442/HB4544—which aim to create dedicated homeless education coordinators in each county, by decoupling the role from that of attendance officer—would strengthen West Virginia’s ability to provide this critical support.
While federal law already requires every district to designate a homeless liaison, the state can help ensure these positions are effective, well-supported, and able to focus on students’ needs. Ensuring liaisons are able to better support students, and to help them obtain vital documents needed access housing, training, employment and other basic resources will remove barriers for many of the 15,000 West Virginia youth experiencing homelessness.
I respectfully urge you to support legislation that removes barriers to education, employment, and stability for youth experiencing homelessness. Thank you for your time and commitment to helping every West Virginia student have the opportunity to thrive.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Title/Organization, if applicable]
[Your Contact Information]
Is your Senator on the Education Committee?
The Unseen Reality
During the 2024–25 school year, WV public schools identified 15,101 students experiencing homelessness — in every region, rural and urban.
86.3% were “doubled up,” temporarily staying with others due to housing loss or financial hardship.
These students often go unidentified and unsupported. Students experiencing homelessness often lack stable housing, food, clothing, healthcare, and other basic necessities. These unmet needs create serious barriers to education, including:
- Missed days and disrupted learning
- Lower graduation rates
- Physical and mental health challenges
- Barriers to work, training, and opportunity
More on What’s at Stake for West Virginia Homeless Children and Youth
When students are supported through their education, and given access to basic tools like IDs and stable housing, they can graduate, join the workforce, and contribute to the economy. West Virginia benefits when every young person has the opportunity to thrive. Leadership can make these low-cost, high-impact solutions possible.
Every district has a homeless liaison, but most lack the time and resources to perform the role effectively because so many have to juggle competing responsibilities. These homeless liaisons are often the sole connection between students and the support they need. Federal law mandates that each district designate a liaison, but policy reforms to ensure these educators can dedicate more time and focus to students experiencing homelessness, while shifting other responsibilities, could significantly improve outcomes.
What SB 442/ HB 4544 Would Do:
Senate Bill 442 and House Bill 4544 were introduced in the 2026 legislative session to create dedicated homeless education coordinators in every West Virginia county. These positions would strengthen identification of, and support for students experiencing homelessness by coordinating services, training school staff, and ensuring students can remain enrolled and succeed.
Without ID, homeless youth can’t:
- Get a job
- Enroll in job training or higher education
- Apply for housing
Applying for these documents—or obtaining required fee waivers—is often impossible without assistance from a homeless education coordinator, social worker, or another trusted adult.
This straightforward policy change could reduce unemployment, boost economic growth, and give more young people the tools they need to achieve self-sufficiency.
What SB 432/ HB 4532 Would Do:
Senate Bill 432 and House Bill 4532 were introduced in the 2026 legislative session to provide free photo IDs, birth certificates, and replacement driver’s licenses to people experiencing homelessness, including youth—removing a key barrier to employment, housing, and education.
Op-Ed: Most Homeless Youth Can’t Get an ID. West Virginia Can Change That.
Senator Vince Deeds, State Senator in West Virginia, representing the 10th Senatorial District.
“In the 2024-25 school year, West Virginia’s public schools identified 15,101 students experiencing homelessness, according to the most recent data available from the state Department of Education. This includes several hundred unaccompanied homeless students, navigating life without the support of a parent or guardian. Homelessness is just as prevalent in rural communities as it is in urban areas—and it’s getting worse and demands immediate attention.”
There are more than 13,000 homeless students in WV, and statehouse efforts to help them stalled
“We expect kids to succeed, but it’s not fair to them when they don’t have a fixed place of living. You just can’t focus. I’m not going to learn what four times three is if I don’t know where my next house is.”
— Keith Thomas, Cabell County Schools