Education for Homeless Children & Youth

Find Your Local Liaison

The Delaware Department of Education and Delaware schools adhere to the provisions of the Federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act which aims to minimize the educational disruptions experienced by students who are experiencing homelessness. According to the Federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, "homeless children and youth" is defined as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including children and youth:

• Sharing housing of other persons due to loss of housing or economic hardship;
• Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations;
• Living in emergency or transitional shelters;
• Abandoned in hospitals;
• Having a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;
• Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations; and
• Migratory children living in circumstances described above.

The following potential warning signs may indicate homelessness:

• Lack of continuity in education
• Poor health/nutrition
• Transportation and attendance problems
• Poor hygiene
• Lack of privacy/personal space after school
• Social and behavioral concerns
• Reactions/statements by parent, guardian or child

Under the Federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, students experiencing homelessness are guaranteed the right to a free, appropriate, public education. When students experience homelessness, they can remain enrolled in the schools they have been attending, although they might no longer meet residency requirements. McKinney-Vento also guarantees students experiencing homelessness the right to enroll in a public school even if they lack the typically required documents and immunizations. In addition, students experiencing homelessness are guaranteed the transportation they need to attend school.

National Association for the Education Homeless Children and Youth

National Center for Homeless Education at SERVE

If you or a family member are experiencing homelessness and need emergency shelter, call 302-654-0126 x112

You can email intake@housingalliancede.org, also. Centralized Intake Services are available from 8 AM - 5 PM, Mondays - Fridays. Staff will assist you with locating available emergency shelter in all 3 counties in Delaware.

If you are fleeing domestic violence, call:
New Castle County Hotline: 302-762-6110
Northern Kent County Hotline: 302-678-3886
Kent and Sussex Hotline: 302-422-8058

All 24-hour hotline phone numbers are confidential, and staffed by trained professionals that can assist you with safety planning and access to available resources. https://dvcc.delaware.gov/24-hour-hotline-numbers

Find Housing, Find a Place to Live DelawareHousingSearch.org Call 1-877-428-8844.