Connecting families, community NGOs and Entities to Project Heart for students experiencing homelessness
Project Heart Assist Students Who Do Not Have:
FIXED
ADEQUATE
REGULAR
The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children as “individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.”
PROJECT HEART ASSISTS STUDENTS LIVING IN THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS:
- Shelter
- Motel
- Car
- Park
- Abandoned Building
- Bus or Train Station
- Campground due to lack of an alternative adequate accommodation
- Doubled up with other people due to loss of housing or economic hardship
Project Heart Can Help With
- School enrollment
- School supplies and uniforms
- School stability
- School related expenses
- Graduation or GED fees
- Post high school planning
- Referrals for pregnant or parenting teens
- Referrals for medical/dental, vision and mental health assistance
- Referrals for community resources through UNITE US such as:
– Housing/rental assistance
– Emergency shelter
– Utilities assistance
– Food pantries
– Employment
– Job Training
– Adult education
– Food stamps
– Medicaid
UNDER THE MCKINNEY VENTO ACT, ELIGIBLE STUDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO:
- A free, appropriate public education.
- Education in a mainstream school environment.
- Participation in the school food service program.
- Prompt resolution of disputes regarding educational placement.
- No isolation or stigmatization due to their homeless status.
- Placement in their school of origin the entire time they are homeless for the duration of any academic year.
- Consideration of parent’s requests regarding placement at the school of origin or the zoned school.
- Educational, social, athletic, and recreational services offered to other students
Process To Connect
- If you work with a family with school age student(s)
- If the family is a resident of Manatee County
- If the family is living in one of the following situations:
shelter, motel, car, park, bus, train station, campground due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations, or is house sharing due to loss of housing or economic hardship
USING UNITE US?
Refer guardian/parent on Unite Us to Project Heart