Homeless

MCKINNEY-VENTO HOMELESS ASSISTANCE ACT

Provides certain rights and protection for families experiencing homelessness.

According to McKinney-Vento, anyone who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence is homeless.

For more information about your child(ren)'s rights under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, please contact:


Karen Keller

Homeless Liaison

603.837.2528 x 2075



The state of New Hampshire fully complies with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987. It is a United States federal law that guarantees children and youth in homeless situations the following educational rights:
  • To enroll in school immediately, even if missing records and documents normally required for enrollment, such as birth certificates, proof of residence, previous school records or immunization/medical records
  • Enroll, attend classes, and participate fully in all school activities while the school gathers records
  • Attend either the local school or the “school of origin”, if this is in their best interest; the “school of origin” is the school attended when he/she was permanently housed or the school in which the child was last enrolled
  • Receive transportation support to and from the “school of origin” if in the best interest of the child(ren)
  • Free breakfast and lunch for the school year
  • Receive the same special programs and services, if needed, as provided to all other children in these programs

A student is considered “homeless” if he or she is presently:

            1.             Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing or economic hardship; or a similar reason;

            2.         Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations;

            3.         Living in emergency or transitional shelters;

            4.         Are abandoned in hospitals;

            5.         have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designated for, or ordinarily   used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;

            6.         Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, transportation stations or similar settings;

            7.         Are migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are living in circumstances as described above. 

Resources:

National Center for Homeless Education

NH Department of Education Homeless Education Resources

New Hampshire Coalition to End Homelessness

New Hampshire Outreach Programs

Home4Hope

School House Connection
Community Behavioral Health Resources Guide