Homeless Youth and Families
If you are in any of the following situations:
- Staying in a shelter
- Sharing housing with others due to loss of housing or economic hardship
- Living in a car, park, campground, abandoned building, or other inadequate accommodation
- Temporarily living in a motel or hotel due to loss of housing
- A student under the age of 18 living apart from parent(s) or guardian
You may qualify for certain rights and protections under the federal McKinney-Vento Act.
Eligible students have the right to:
- Receive a free, appropriate public education.
- Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment.
- Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents.
- Enroll in the local school; or continue attending their school of origin (the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled), if that is their preference.
- If the school district believes that the school selected is not in his/her best interest, then the district must provide the student with a written explanation of its position and inform the student of his/her right to appeal its decision.
- Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if requested.
- Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to the students’ needs.
Eligible students have protections:
The fact that a child is homeless or is classified as an unaccompanied minor, as defined in the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, is not, in and of itself, a sufficient basis for reporting child abuse or neglect.
If you believe you may be eligible, contact the IVA High’s Homeless Liaison to find out what services and supports may be available:
Darlin Ortiz, IVA High’s Homeless Liaison
562.283.4456 or darlin.ortiz@ivahigh.org.
Attention: If your living situation has changed, please contact Ms. Ortiz as soon as possible.