New Hampshire's Homeless Education Program Definition of Homeless Children and Youth and Resources
DID YOU KNOW...? If you share housing with relatives, friends or others because you lost your housing or have nowhere else to go, you may be covered under the McKinney-Vento Act. Students covered under the Act have the right to stay in the same school and get transportation to school, or immediately enroll in the local school. Speak to Lynne Joseph (Hampstead Middle School Assistant Principal), the liaison in your school district, for more information at 603-329-6743.
THE MCKINNEY-VENTO LIAISON MAY ASSIST YOU IN RECEIVING
THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:
• Enrollment assistance, including help in obtaining needed school records, health records, special education records, and immunization records
• Transportation to/from school of origin if eligible
• Continued attendance at school of origin
• Free school breakfast/lunch
• Waiver of school fees
• School supplies
• Waiver of fees for extracurricular activities
• Pre-school information
• Additional educational programs, such as tutoring, special education, gifted and talented and programs for English Language Learners
• Referral to community resources, social service agencies, and other services that can assist families with basic needs
• Assistance with the appeal process if you feel your rights have been denied
THE MCKINNEY-VENTO ACT COVERS CHILDREN AND YOUTH WHO DON’T HAVE A FIXED, ADEQUATE AND REGULAR NIGHTIME RESIDENCE, SUCH AS THOSE LIVING:
• with friends or relatives due to loss of housing or economic hardship (aka doubled up or couch surfing);
• in a motel, hotel, or campground;
• in emergency or transitional shelters;
• in temporary situations while awaiting foster care placement or abandoned in hospitals;
• in a public or private place not designed or ordinarily used for, regular sleeping accommodations;
• in a car, public space, abandoned building, substandard housing, bus or train station or other similar settings;
• in temporary housing and not with their legal parents or guardians (Unaccompanied Youth).
NH State Coordinator: Dr. Lynda Thistle Elliott Director Homeless Education Department of Education 101 Pleasant Street, Concord, NH 03301 603.271.3840 [email protected]
Statewide information and Resources for families and youth in transitional situations: www.home4hope.com, www.ed.state.nh.us, https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcbcs/bhhs/homelessness.htm, www.serve.org/nche, and www.nlchp.org.