Resources for Children and Youth Displaced by Disasters

Most children and youth displaced by disasters are likely eligible for the protections and services of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act because they will meet the Act’s definition of homelessness. The McKinney-Vento education definition of homelessness includes children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This specifically covers those living in shelters, transitional housing, cars, campgrounds, motels, substandard housing, or sharing the housing of others temporarily due to loss of housing or similar reasons. All determinations of eligibility are individualized and made on a case-by-case basis.

Yes, if your child meets the definition of homelessness under the McKinney-Vento Act. Under the McKinney-Vento Act, students have the right to enroll immediately in the school where they are currently staying, even if they lack the documents typically required for enrollment, such as immunization records, proof of residency, or school transcripts, and even if they have missed enrollment deadlines. Schools are required to assist in obtaining documentation, including immunization and health records. In cases of widespread disasters where records from previous schools may be impossible to obtain, school staff should speak directly with parents and youth to help determine appropriate class placement, including any special education services that may be part of the student’s Individualized Education Plan under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Under the McKinney-Vento Act, children and youth experiencing homelessness have the right to attend their “school of origin,” defined as the school the student attended when permanently housed, or the school in which the student was last enrolled. The decision about whether to attend the school of origin or enroll in a new school must be based on the child’s best interest and must give priority to the request of the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth. If staying in the school of origin is determined to be in the child’s best interest, the local educational agency (LEA) must provide transportation to the school of origin upon request. Students can remain in their school of origin for the duration of homelessness and until the end of the academic year in which they obtain permanent housing. If the LEA determines that school stability is not in the best interest of the child, the LEA must provide a written explanation, including how to dispute the decision, and the family has the right to dispute that decision.

Yes, if students meet the definition of homelessness under the McKinney-Vento Act. McKinney-Vento students are categorically eligible for free school meals, no application is required. It is the homeless liaison’s role to notify school nutrition staff when a student is identified under McKinney-Vento so that free meals can begin immediately. Eligibility remains in effect for the duration of the current school year and up to 30 days after the first operating day of the following school year.

Every local educational agency is required to designate a McKinney-Vento liaison, who is a staff person responsible for identifying children and youth experiencing homelessness, ensuring they are enrolled in school, and connecting them to the services they need. To find your local liaison, check out this directory.

SHC has compiled policy guidance, rights flyers, and field-tested strategies specifically for disaster-displaced students. This includes a brief summarizing five key federal policies, downloadable Know Your Rights flyers in English and Spanish, and insights from McKinney-Vento liaisons who supported students after the 2018 Camp Fire. See the resource library above for direct links.

Collaboration and preparation before a disaster occurs are critical to minimize disruption and ensure support after a disaster. Local homeless liaisons are encouraged to connect with disaster response agencies, shelters, and other service providers in advance to build awareness of McKinney-Vento and establish referral processes. See SHC’s Five Key Policies brief and the Camp Fire liaison insights for practical strategies.

In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, as well as over the following months, children and youth may experience anxiety, fear, and other emotional consequences of trauma. Connecting students and families to mental health supports immediately can help them feel safe and ready to focus on school. See the mental health resources section below for recommended tools and materials.

It depends on which agency administers the Head Start or early childhood program. McKinney-Vento liaisons are required to ensure that young children experiencing homelessness, including those displaced by disasters, have access to and receive Head Start, early intervention programs (Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), and preschool programs administered by local educational agencies. McKinney-Vento applies to Head Start programs that are funded or administered in whole or in part by the local educational agency (LEA). If a Head Start program is not administered by the LEA, liaisons should work with that program’s enrollment team to determine the best placement for the child because early education and care settings can provide stability for young children who are homeless due to disasters, as well as a safe place while parents seek the supports they will need to re-establish their families.

Liaisons should reach out proactively to disaster response agencies, shelters, and community partners to identify displaced children and youth as quickly as possible. Ongoing awareness and outreach strategies, including informational materials, community partnerships, and coordination with service providers, support identification efforts. SHC’s Camp Fire liaison insights resource provides field-tested strategies from liaisons who navigated a large-scale disaster response.