Who is Considered 
Homeless?

The McKinney-Vento Act defines "homeless children
and youth" (school age and younger) as: children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including children and youth who are:

• Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of
  housing, economic hardship, or similar reason.

• Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, cars public spaces, abandoned houses, substandard housing, camping grounds or similar settings due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations.

• Living in emergency or transitional shelters; abandoned
  in hospitals; or awaiting foster care placement.

• Migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are living in substandard housing.
  

 Unaccompanied youth, including any youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian, such as runaways, youth denied housing their families  (sometimes referred to as "throwaway" children and youth). and school age unwed mothers, living in homes for unwed mothers, who have no other housing available.

How can schools verify that students are experiencing homelessness?

There is no universal system of verification. Shelter workers, social workers, or the Homeless Liaison may visit the current residence to make a determination. However, students must be enrolled while this verification is in progress.