The term homeless children and youth means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This definition also includes:
- Children and youth who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason.
- Children who may be living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, shelters, or awaiting foster care placement.
- Children and youth who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
- Children and youth who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings.
- Migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are children who are living in similar circumstances listed above.
- Children and youth living in these settings meet the criteria for the McKinney-Vento definition of homelessness and have educational rights.
The following resources are provided to help district liaisons connect to services for homeless students.
- Strategies for Identification of McKinney Vento/Homeless Students
- Riverside County Homeless Housing Services
Homeless students in need of housing, can call Home Connect at 1-800-498-8847. They will be enrolled in the program and connected with a navigator or outreach staff member from an agency in Riverside County who will walk alongside them during the process of securing housing. - RCOE CCSPP Findhelp®
Students and families can find support in their communities through the Riverside County Office of Education Community Schools Partnership Findhelp® online resource.