By: Tyanna Guzman
Most students may find themselves unaware of the fact that one of their classmates could be homeless. Homelessness is defined officially as “lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.” These students and their families find shelter in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping grounds, cars, parks, and other public spaces.
According to the Orange County Public Schools McKinney-Vento Program homeless youths most often become homeless due to loss of housing or economic hardships. These children may also be awaiting foster care placement. Even students housed with relatives or friends on a temporary basis are considered homeless.
MVP is on a mission to rid the homeless education seekers of conflicts that they may face when enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school. MVP is expanding service to these students qualifying as homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act (MVA). The act ensures that schools across Orange County disseminate public notice of educational rights at schools.
The educational rights of homeless students under MVA state that they can enroll and attend school no matter where they live or how long they have lived there. Children experiencing homelessness are not to be denied the opportunity to attend school programs with children who are not homeless if there were any enrollment disputes upon enrolling. Those arguments would be heard and solved while the student continued attending class.
Once officially designated as a homeless youth, s/he is provided free lunches and transportation to a school in their zone. Backpacks, school supplies, funding for specific required school materials, field trip money, emergency basic needs items (clothing, hygiene products etc.), and Lynx Bus Passes/ Gas Reimbursement Cards are given to these students.
Other than the MVP organization, Timber Creek itself also provides help for its homeless students. Help is offered through free breakfast and lunch, along with bus transportation. The SAFE office and guidance counselors help coordinate pick-up and delivery for food distribution.
The Student Government Association (SGA) fundraises for the homeless around Thanksgiving and Christmas by organizing food baskets. BETA donated gifts around Christmas for them through Operation Santa Surprise. Clothes and accessories, as well as free formal attire for school dances, are provided through Key Club, located in room 560B.
Every Wednesday, Orange County’s Burning Hearts Ministry provides baked goods for students to take with them when they leave school. The school’s food pantry, located within the cafeteria in a room that was formerly the faculty dining lounge, has had donations from the Primrose School at Avalon Park, Wemert Group/ Bridge Water, and Kavaliro.
Service Learning students help to keep the food pantry stocked as well. Service Learning Academy Coordinator/ teacher Wendy Doromal and her students work with the Health Care Center for the Homeless (HCCH). “We have food drives and clothing drives for the homeless,” said Doromal.
In Orange County, the homeless student count as of Dec. 12, 2013 was 5,101, an increase of 322 from a month earlier.
At Timber Creek 23 students are coded as homeless, but that does not mean there are not more. Most of these teens spend their day at school and blend in. JoLynn Schall is on staff in the SAFE office and specializes in working with these students.
“They inspire me because, despite their circumstances, they have a good attitude and want to do well in school,” Schall said.
One of these 23 coded homeless students spends her day facing the hardships of finding a job, doing everything on her own, and not having money. School has become more difficult in the three months she has been homeless. She finds it hard to focus and is constantly worried.
“We have more obstacles to overcome,” she said about herself and other homeless students.
Through the school she has food and clothes. She currently lives with a friend due to problems in her previous household.
With the help of schools and organizations, homeless students can make the best out of being without a permanent home.