These checklists provide strategies and resources to ensure that students experiencing homelessness are identified as soon as possible, and receive support after they have been identified.
First Step: Identifying Students Experiencing Homelessness
Identifying students experiencing homelessness is a core duty of LEA homeless liaisons, outlined in the McKinney-Vento Act. The COVID-19 pandemic in particular has both exacerbated homelessness for many students while also making it more difficult for liaisons to find and re-engage them. This checklist provides strategies and considerations for liaisons to ensure students are identified as soon as possible.
Next Step: Supporting Students After They’ve Been Identified as Homeless
This checklist is intended as a framework for liaisons to use after a student has been identified as experiencing homelessness. Many districts have outlined their own processes and procedures for identifying students under the McKinney-Vento Act and notifying other district staff members who ensure services are provided. For those districts who do not have processes and procedures in place, this resource will provide guidance for establishing a process and streamlining identification.
Related Resources
Indicators of Homelessness: Awareness Building Tools for Staff
This resource describes certain struggles or behaviors that may be indicators of homelessness, explains how we can reframe our thinking to better support students, and offers strategies to assist in the identification process by looking for red flags and reaching out to the building social worker or point of contact.