Homeless Youth and Families
Please notify us if you are in any of the following situations:
- Staying in a shelter (family shelter, domestic violence shelter, youth shelter) or Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) trailer
- Sharing housing with other(s) due to loss of housing or economic hardship, natural disaster, lack of adequate housing, or similar reason
- Living in a car, park, campground, abandoned building, or other inadequate accommodation (i.e.: lack of water, electricity, or heat)
- Temporarily living in a motel or hotel due to loss of housing, economic hardship, natural disaster, or similar reason
- Living in a single-home residence that is permanent
- 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. Providing this information to the school will help to determine what services you and/or your child may be eligible for. This could include additional educational services through Title I and McKinney-Vento. The information will be kept confidential and only shared with the appropriate staff.
Eligible students have the right to:
- Receive a free, appropriate public education.
- Immediate enrollment in the school they last attended (school of origin) or the local school where you are currently staying, even if you do not have all of the documents normally required at the time of enrollment.
- Continue to attend the school of origin, the same special programs and services, if needed as provided to all other children, including free meals and Title I.
- Receive the full protections and services provided under all federal and state laws, as it relates to homeless children, youth, and their families.
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.