Despite the critical support the EHCY program provides to youth and families, the recent COVID-19 relief package passed by Congress failed to direct funds to the program. It simply gave states grants to spend on a range of COVID-19 needs. With competing demands, there is no guarantee that states will direct their grants to the proven programs that are laser-focused on supporting our least visible and most vulnerable children and youth.
Among its wide range of supports and protections, EHCY provides the only trained professionals who know how to keep in touch with homeless children and youth and what they need to survive and obtain the education that is their best hope of escaping homelessness as adults.
York County is not the only community where educators are working tirelessly to ensure students like Tom don’t fall through the cracks. In Phoenix and Spokane, WA, homeless education coordinators have distributed informational posters to campgrounds, motels and other areas where families and youth might seek shelter. In San Antonio, school social workers are implementing systems to identify newly homeless students. Nationwide, there are efforts to expand digital access through pre-paid phones, devices and hotspots; deliver food, hygiene and educational supplies; and help families access motel vouchers and other means of shelter.
But ultimately, these efforts cannot be sustained without greater financial support. Even before the pandemic, many school districts struggled to provide for students who were homeless. Now,
At every level of leadership—local, state, and federal—we must prioritize the health, safety and education needs of our most vulnerable students. During this time of immense upheaval it is critical to help prevent them from experiencing homelessness into adulthood.
Schools have always been the primary safety net for students who are homeless. Now, when risks of illness and homelessness are even higher, their role is more important than ever—and we must ensure they are as strongly equipped as possible to support the millions of children and youth who are counting on them.