Title X Overview

In an effort to strengthen education support for students who find themselves and their families in temporary homeless circumstances, the U.S. Federal Government passed the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431). The program is now referenced as "Title X."

The term "homeless children and youth" means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This includes students living in:

• Double-up housing with other families or friends.
• Runaway/homeless youth shelters (even if parents invite the youth home).
• Hotels or motels.
• Shelters, including domestic violence shelters.
• Cars, abandoned buildings, parks, the streets or other public spaces.
• Campgrounds or inadequate trailer homes.

Students in homeless situations have the right to:

• Get help enrolling and succeeding in school from the district's liaison for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth or from a designated building contact.
• Stay in the school they went to before becoming homeless or whatever school they were enrolled in last (called "school or origin), even if they move out of the district, or they can choose to go to the local school in the area where they are living.
• Get transportation to their school of origin provided or arranged by the school district, or a joint effort among school districts.
• Get preschool services, apply for free school meals, services for ELL, special education, Title I services vocational/technical education, and gifted and talented services.

If you currently find yourself in any of the situations described above, you or your children are entitled to assistance so that their schooling can continue during this challenging time.

Contact

Please ask for assistance in the school your child is attending. For additional assistance, please contact Gina Baez, the HSD's Title X Liaison, at 503-844-1500, or call Kristin Ludwig, Title X Student Advocate, at 503-640-3263.

Resources