Homeless Students

Annual Notice

Homeless Children and Youth

Support

Students experiencing housing instability/homelessness have support and protection under the federal law, McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. 

If you are staying temporarily with someone else because you lost your housing, or staying in a motel/hotel, campground, shelter, or in an outside or inadequate place, you and your children have special rights at school.

Those rights include:

• Staying in the same school even if you move, and receiving transportation to that school, as long as it is in the student’s best interest
• Enrolling in school immediately without the documents schools usually require
• Receiving free school meals
• Getting help with school supplies and other needs
• Extra support for youth who are on their own
• Help connecting young children with early childhood services

Resources

Dane County youth experiencing homelessness: Briarpatch Youth Services

Dane County adults experiencing homelessness:  Homeless Services Consortium of Dane County

Dial 2-1-1 for United Way Anonymous Resource and Referral Line:  food assistance, health care, housing, resources for families, legal services, immigration services, mental health, and substance use resources

Dane County Resource Guide