2022 SCICH SC State of Homelessness Report - Flipbook - Page 17
MCKINNEY-VENTO DATA
Children in SC Schools Experiencing Homelessness
Children and Youth
Homelessness
It is an unfortunate reality that many people experiencing homelessness are under the age
of 18; some are members of families experiencing homelessness, while others are youth
experiencing homelessness and on their own. Subtitle VII-B of the McKinney-Vento
Homeless Assistance Act (hereafter referred to as The McKinney-Vento Act), reauthorized in
2015 by Title IX, Part A of the, "Every Student Succeeds Act" (42 U.S.C. & 11431 et seq.), is a
Federal law that addresses the educational needs of children and youth experiencing
homelessness.
While both the U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) base their services on eligibility criteria on the McKinney-Vento Act,
each department's definition varies according to the program's service parameters and
intended use of the funds. Both agencies consider people who lack a fixed, regular and
adequate nighttime residence to be homeless. While there is overlap, Subtitle VII-B of the
McKinney-Vento Act, the Education of Homeless Children and Youth definition, is more
encompassing.
Because family shelter capacity is limited and many shelters will not allow adolescents boys
to shelter with their families, most families with children and youth in homeless situations
stay temporarily with other people, in motels, or substandard housing. These situations are
very unstable, often unsafe and overcrowded, and put children, parents and youth at-risk of
abuse and/or trafficking. The impact of these more hidden forms of homelessness are just as
negative as experiencing homelessness on the streets or in shelters. Having a clear
understanding of who is experiencing homelessness and who is at-risk of becoming
homeless is imperative as we work to make homelessness brief, rare and non-recurring
across our state for individuals, children and families.
2022 SC
STATE OF HOMELESSNESS REPORT
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