Homeless Education Link Project

Homeless Education Link Project Henderson County Public Schools

MARCH 2013 VOLUME 1, NUMBER 5 Who is homeless? (McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of Homeless, Now Famous 2001 – Title X, Part C of the No Child Left Behind We thought it might be interesting to see how some famous and influential people Act – Sec 725) overcame homelessness to find success! Here are just a few names of people who were once homeless in their youth: The term “homeless children and youth”— Halle Berry – lived in a shelter A. means individuals who Drew Carey – lived in his car lack a fixed, regular, and Kelly Clarkston – lived in her car and a shelter adequate nighttime residence…; and Ella Fitzgerald – lived on the streets B. includes — Ben Franklin – lived on the streets i. children and youths who Kelsey Grammer – lived in a tent are sharing the housing of Jewel – lived in her car other persons due to loss Lil’ Kim – lived in her car of housing, economic David Letterman – lived in his car hardship, or similar Hilary Swank – lived in her car, couch-surfed reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer Shania Twain – lived in a car, on the streets, and in a shelter parks, or camping grounds Michael Oher – (from “The Blind Side” movie) – lived on the streets due to the lack of alternative accommodations; are living in emergency or Building Resilience transitional shelters; are When you look at the list of people who were once homeless, but now famous, it abandoned in hospitals; or are awaiting foster care might make you wonder how some people collapse under such pressure, while placement; others seemingly overcome and succeed. ii. children and youths who When working with homeless children and youth, have a primary nighttime professionals often site “resilience” as an important residence that is a public key to defying the odds. Resilience is the capacity to or private place not rise above difficult circumstances. It is the trait designed for or ordinarily that allows a person to move forward with optimism and used as a regular sleeping On a regular confidence, even in the midst of adversity. While a accommodation for basis,HELP children Case trait like resilience has its obvious biological and genetic humanandManagers youth beings… report influences, resilience can also be nurtured and developed with the iii.that children school and youths is a whohomeChristine are living to themin Craft cars, – proper interventions. parks,a828-388-0294 place public spaces,where [email protected] Resilience is relevant to educational programs that serve homeless students, but it abandonedthey seebuildings, the Troy Bradley must go far beyond the academic needs. The challenge is to figure out how to use samesubstandard faces, housing, sit bus in the828-388-0266 same seat available resources to help these students [email protected] train stations, or and canus put their effectively cope with their circumstances within similar settings; and hearts and minds and beyond the classroom. iv. migratory children who Directorinto pursuits of Title that I qualifyeaseand as Homelesstheir homeless daily for the All children need caring and loving adults to guide Services purposestroubles. of this subtitle them. Ideally, this happens at home, and because the children are happens early. However, when a family is dealing livingDr. InAnitain circumstances school, Owenby 828-697-4514 with the stressors of homelessness, or a teen is studentsdescribed in clauses gain (i) the [email protected] attempting to survive on their own, the throughskills (iii)..us and support needed responsibility of building resilience often falls to professionals, schools, and the community. toNorth avoid Carolina poverty Stateand Homeless students are more likely than their housed peers to experience health, homelessnessCoordinator of as Homelessadults. psychosocial, Education ~ National Association for the Lisa Phillips developmental and educational problems (Stronge, 2000). Therefore, mandates like the McKinney Vento Act were set in place to help schools