Funding boost will help Michigan students who are homeless

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By VLADISLAVA SUKHANOVSKAYA 
Capital News Service

LANSING — Michigan students without homes will gain more than $2 million in funding from the federal stimulus package, according to the Michigan Department of Education. 

The estimated funding for what is known as the McKinney-Vento program for 2021-22 is about $1.8 million now. The $2.2 million is additional funding from the American Rescue Plan for 2021-22, and this is the final program allocation.

There are more than 30,000 students who are homeless in Michigan, according to the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.

But there are gaps in the counting of children, said Parker James, the Kids Count policy analyst at the Michigan League for Public Policy. Kids Count is a national project that measures the well-being of children. 

“In Detroit schools we have an undercount of students. Definitely, students are being missed through this mechanism,” he said.

Among the districts receiving the most funds are the Kent Intermediate School District, Oakland Schools and Berrien Regional Educational Services Agency, which will each get more than $100,000. Wayne Regional Educational Service Agencies gains $226,921.

The Lansing Public School District will gain additional $82,138, according to 2021-22 final program allocations of the American Rescue Plan. Traverse City Area Public Schools will receive $62,767 and St. Clair County RESA will receive $55,754.

“The challenge is that this is one-time funds,” said Michelle Williams, the special population manager at the Department of Education and state coordinator for the McKinney-Vento homeless education. “When we look at the need of students across the state and the availability of our regular funds there is a lot of need.”

Rose Taphouse, the homeless coordinator for the Lansing School District, said it offers the opportunity to pilot programs that the district couldn’t afford before.

The districts could fund big projects such as creating a laundry service for homeless students and their families, supporting mentor programs, adding nurses to schools for physical health and mental health support, funding free dinners and distribution of gift cards for taxi transportation, Taphouse said. Existing funds are spent on such things as free lunches and transportation.

Reasons why children become homeless vary.

They could be children who moved from a home with their families because their parents can’t afford a house, victims of domestic abuse, neglected kids and children whose gender identity or sexual orientation are not accepted in their families, said Peri Stone-Palmquist, the executive director at the Student Advocacy Center of Michigan.

“A lot of families are living on the edge economically and one little crisis happens that costs a lot of money and suddenly you are left behind on your rent,” Stone-Palmquist said.

Black students experience the highest rates of homelessnes due to racial inequality and housing because the black communities were cut off from housing, loans and economic opportunities due to racist “redlining” policies, James said.

Students who are homeless and their families live in shelters, cars, or homes of relatives, said Stone-Palmquist. They have a number of challenges. Inadequate clothing leads to shame and embarrassment when they just want to fit in.

Sometimes free breakfast and lunch for students in temporary housing are the only meals that they get, she said. “Sleep is another problem. When you are moving around and in a really crowded situation, it’s very hard to have a regular sleep schedule that impacts your academic success.”

showing absenteeism rates two times higher for students who are homeless.

Michigan’s Center for Educational Performance and Information

showing absenteeism rates two times higher for students who are homeless.

The students are in constant movement and have economical, health, behavioral and school attendance problems and are more likely to be suspended due to their chronic absences. “That means those students face higher rates of suspensions, disciplinary practices and expulsions. This is not the solution,” James said.

Keeping students in school is a key way to support them, he said.

In 2019, Michigan had the third-highest rate of chronic absenteeism in fourth grades. Since 2015 this number has increased 47%, according to the League for Public Policy.

The Strong Attendance For Every Student Act that was introduced in the state Senate should prevent that type of suspension, James said. Known as the SAFE Act, it would protect students from being disciplined, suspended or expelled for solely being chronically absent.

Brittney Barros sits on the board of directors of the Student Advocacy Center. She experienced homelessness while growing up in Ypsilanti.

She was living with her mother and brother. They didn’t have stable housing and slept in a tent, the car, motels and shelters. Barros said she was bullied for being homeless. She also had food insecurity and medical problems, she said.

“My high school under the McKinney-Vento Act provided a lot of support for getting rides to school every day. They provided a taxi,” Barros said. School also gave her extra time on assignments.

According to the McKinney-Vento Homeless program, schools must provide transportation to the home district, Williams said.  

Funds to major school districts and intermediate school districts statewide listed for localization of story.
Funds to major school districts and intermediate school districts statewide listed for localization of story.

“The cost of transportation is unreal and I wish that the state could allocate more funds to the McKinney-Vento program and to school districts,” said Stone-Palmquist.

Also, students who were once identified as eligible for the McKinney-Vento receive free lunches without paperwork for parents to fill out, according to Williams.

The program also funds training specialists called liaisons to identify students who are experiencing homelessness and help them, according to Williams.

To find support for students who experience homelessness call 2-1-1.

This story was up dated Oct. 20, 2021 to correct the naming order of Parker James.

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