McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

Homelessness is often thought of as something that only happens to people with particular traits, habits, or economic standing, but it impacts people from all backgrounds. Consider the following:  lack of affordable housing, job loss, serious illness/accident, natural disaster, significant life changes, child and youth abuse and domestic violence are among some of the reasons for a loss of housing.

In January of 2002, Congress authorized the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to help people experiencing homelessness. The federal law includes the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program that entitles children who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence to a free, appropriate education and requires schools to remove barriers to their enrollment, attendance and success in school. The McKinney-Vento Program meets the needs of homeless students attending Lexington City Schools by addressing academic challenges and family issues affecting their success in school.

Examples of living situations that may qualify include, but are not limited to:

  • Living with a friend, relative or other person/family because of a loss of housing

  • Staying in a motel or hotel because of a loss of housing, fleeing domestic violence, or natural disaster

  • Living in an emergency shelter, transitional housing or domestic violence shelter

  • Living in a car, park or public place, abandoned building or bus station

  • Living temporarily in substandard housing

  • Living in a campground or an inadequate trailer home

  • Living in a runaway or homeless youth shelter; run away youth

  • Youth living on their own, even if their families want them to come home

Who is Eligible?

Families are the fastest-growing segment of the homeless population in the United States. The McKinney-Vento Act contains a specific definition of homelessness that includes a broad array of inadequate living situations.

Examples of living situations that may qualify are:

  • Living with a friend, relative or other person

  • Hotel or motel

  • Shelter or transitional housing

  • Car, park or other public place

  • Campground, storage unit, abandoned building or other inadequate home

  • Youth living on their own, runaway youth or youth kicked out

The living situations above do not include all situations that may qualify. If you or someone you know is in transition and would like to speak with someone about the program, please contact the McKinney-Vento Liaison at your child's school.

Requesting Services

Services provided include immediate enrollment, school selection promoting stability, nutrition and academic support. McKinney-Vento services are provided for the duration of a school year and do not automatically renew. To obtain more information about eligibility, services provided and how to access services, please contact your child's McKinney-Vento liaison at their current school.

Transportation

A student eligible for services under the McKinney-Vento Act can receive transportation to and from the current residence to the school of origin or home school for the current academic school year.

NOTE: Lexington City School System's Transportation Department determines the mode of transportation (ex. bus or vendor). Transportation to after school activities, before and after school care and any locations other than the current residence must first be approved by transportation.For general McKinney-Vento questions, please contact Nicole Piggott.

Lisa Phillips
McKinney-Vento State Coordinator
336.543.4285
Email Lisa Phillips

Individual School Contacts

Charles England Elementary
336.242.1552

McKinney-Vento Representative(s)
Hannah Hewett, Email Hannah Hewett

School Social Worker
Chevonna Warren, Email Chevonna Warren

Pickett Elementary
336.242.1546

McKinney-Vento Representative(s)
Naomi Williams, Email Naomi Williams

School Social Worker
Chevonna Warren, Email Chevonna Warren

South Lexington School & Developmental Center
336.242.1544

McKinney-Vento Representative(s)
Staley Burkhart, Email Staley Burkhart

School Social Worker
Chevonna Warren, Email Chevonna Warren

Southwest Global Academy
336.242.1548

McKinney-Vento Representative(s)
Jordan Moore, Email Jordan Moore

School Social Worker
Angela Whiteside, awhiteside@lexcs.org

Lexington Middle
336.242.1567

McKinney-Vento Representative(s)
Jhonnie Holloway, Email Jhonnie Holloway
Olivia McMillian, Email Olivia McMillian

School Social Worker
Angela Whiteside, Email Angela Whiteside

Lexington High School
336.242.1574

McKinney-Vento Representative(s)

School Social Worker
Angela Whiteside, Email Angela Whiteside