Proposal: unfinished

Sarah High

Mrs. Thomas

SEGL 102

16 April, 2013

Shielding Homeless Children from a Frail Future

            Imagine little eight year old Elizabeth coming home from school to find every possession that is dear to her sitting on the street corner.  With tears in her eyes she questions her mom, “Why?”  The only response is “We just can’t live here anymore.”  Because Elizabeth and her family are not financially stable, they are forced to leave their home with only some clothing, a few toys, and pictures, with nowhere to stay.  Some nights they are lucky enough to stay in an overly crowded shelter, sleeping on cots, other nights they have to sleep in the car with all of their belongings.  They have to take showers at the local truck stop, and eat dinner at the local soup kitchen, that is if they aren’t waiting in line to enter the shelter.  Some days little eight-year old Elizabeth goes hungry, other days she goes un-bathed.  She only has her fretful parents there to comfort her, but they seem too anxious to realize her pain.  Elizabeth use to be a social butterfly, but now she is ill-fated and full of sorrow.  Through all of this, Elizabeth’s parents expect her to concentrate in school, and her teachers expect her to complete her homework.  Can you picture this famished girl struggling to concentrate on her multiplication tables because of the lifestyle she now has to live?                

            Millions of individuals are put into situations just like Elizabeth’s a year.  According to the article “Student’s Without Homes” by Vicky Dill, between 1.4 and 1.5 children are left homeless yearly.  Because of the harsh conditions homeless children have to encounter, they experience severe and permanent bearings which make it difficult for them to concentrate on school.  Reporters state homeless children struggle in school with grades, behavior, attendance, and test scores, which could result in high retention and dropout rates (Anderson, Hendricks and Barkley, Miller, Murphy and Tobin).  This shapes their entire life, possibly giving them an undeserved outcome. 

            There are many agencies and programs such as, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, the National Coalition for the Homeless, and the United States Government who focus on raising awareness towards homeless and finding them essential resources.  President Obama’s plan through the USICH has fifty-two strategies in place which envisions to end homelessness by the year 2020.  The McKinney-Vento Act is one resource the Government has put into place since 1987, and is one of the few who work closely with homeless students to help relieve the barriers they face.  In order for homeless children to succeed in their education and have an optimistic future, many resources need to collaborate.  The government needs to induce the budget for homeless resources, including towards the McKinney-Vento Act, the Education Board should assemble learning materials for those who relocate and need tutoring, along with providing other resources, and homeless shelters should include an organization that focuses on the children and their emotional needs, and have a quiet space for homework concentration.

What is the United States Government’s responsibility?

            An acceptable solution to ensure educational success amongst homeless students would be to concentrate on homelessness overall.  To adequately do so, by first increasing the Federal budget for addressing poverty, the need for low-income housing, and providing social services would decrease the possibilities of being homeless (Murphy and Tobin, p 154).  Because many individuals become homeless as a result of job losses, part of addressing poverty includes job and school training.  In “Opening Doors, Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness” by the USICH says that “In order to be self-supporting and avoid homelessness, people need employment.  Employment is dependent on education.” 

            Those homeless individuals seeking higher education, job readiness training, or skill development would be offered a guaranteed grant through Vocational Rehabilitation Services that covers all expenses, including books, supplies, clothing, transportation, and childcare. Persons going to job training would be required to attend six months of intense instruction that focuses on areas of experience. The Federal Government should offer a tax decrease to businesses who hire individuals coming out of the training, and in return those at stake have prospects for employment.  While enrolled in this program they would have weekly to bi-weekly contact with a caseworker to ensure all goals are being met.  They will also be obligated to attend counseling and mental health screenings through area Mental Health Centers to focus on any substance abuse, parent support, depression, or anxiety, and be required to continue services for at least five years after establishing a permanent residence. 

            According to Murphy and Tobin in Homelessness comes to School,  many systems already require participation in mental health programs, however they also acknowledge countless homeless citizens being preoccupied and overwhelmed with basic survival needs.  Therefore they may decline participation, even if it means risking shelter.  Because of this arranging methods to alleviate key stressors would prove to enhance individual success, allowing them to concentrate on self-composure.  Such stressors include making sure nutrition and health care needs are being met, shelter and work are located, and education for their children is being met.  Federal agencies should make sure there are resources easily available to relieve some of the stress, allowing homeless persons to concentrate on improving their status.           

            Since transportation and childcare are difficult for homeless families to attain, the Vocational Rehabilitation caseworker would include a thirty dollar voucher for gas a week, as well as a specialized identification card used for free public transportation.  The NCFH is quoted by Murphy and Tobin that “Childcare is a significant expense for all working families and it may become a barrier to work for families who are homeless.”  For this many counties in the United States provide free childcare to families for up to fifteen months upon leaving a shelter (p 178).  I propose every state require early childcare centers to offer free childcare to homeless children, and up to five years after leaving any homeless situation.  Since the centers won’t have any income coming in from those families, they will be allowed a tax break on all homeless children attending, as well as federal food grants.  Within the five years after completing the program through Vocational Rehabilitation Services, the families will meet monthly with a caseworker to validate employment or education.  This gives families ample time to ensure financial and mental health security. 

            The USICH reports upon passing of the Health Reform will give every individual who is or is at risk for homelessness eligibility for Medicaid by 2014, and TANF assistance would address supporting nutritional needs.  Having this means improved health overall for the homeless population.  All families are eligible for these services based on financial hardship; however, the homeless and those families facing poverty are at a greater need, and for longer periods of time.  When income improves slightly those benefits are reduced or eradicated completely.  This has families suddenly adjusting their new income causing stress amongst them, with no improvements toward homelessness.  Instead of unexpectedly removing all benefits, I propose this be a gradual process, which allows six months of consistent work and permanent residency before removal, then a decreasing of 10% at a time.  This enables them to get accustomed to their financial adjustment, while improving the rates for falling back into homelessness.

            Some researchers believe that traumas, including physical and mental health problems, caused by homelessness would decrease or be alleviated by permanent residency.  One issue preventing many families from receiving housing assistance is defining true homelessness.  HUD has one definition, not including those who are in doubled up situations or residing in motels, and Education Boards consider a much more vast community.  In order for individuals to receive equal rights to public housing, the Federal Government should first define homelessness according to the McKinney-Vento Act’s definition, and all organizations dealing with homeless individuals must be required to document according to that definition (Murphy and Tobin, p180). 

            The USICH reports President Obama’s FY2011 budget for the Recovery Act, which partially focuses on housing homeless persons.  This act has HUD, HHS, and the Education system working together to provide more than six-thousand vouchers for rental assistance for those families facing homelessness.  With homeless children like Elizabeth being confronted with personal losses, and unpleasant and traumatic conditions, which are typically unplanned, they are suffering from psychological and lasting emotional damages, which are affecting their educational experiences (Dill, USICH).  Because of this, families who are already living in homeless situations like Elizabeth should be offered priority to receive those housing vouchers.  Local housing and service systems must be strengthened in order to move quickly and effectively to provide housing and assistance to all who need it.  The quicker families are removed from these situations, the better chance the children have at a successful future.

            In 1987 the Federal Government first realized how being homeless affects children and their education, and presented the first law to remove some barriers these children face.  This was mainly focused on the transportation and enrollment issues, which provides all homeless children transportation to their school of origin and allows enrollment to those who are missing important documents.  Ensuring children have these was thought to boost attendance and allow children to keep their connections amongst their peers.  The Act was revised in the 1990’s and again in 2001.  The McKinney-Vento Act mandated every school district in the country to appoint a homeless liaison, who educates the schools on identifying homeless students and provides resources these students need (DeMont, Dill, Murphy and Tobin, Anderson, USICH).  The Homeless Liaison for Spartanburg County School District Seven, Richard Andrews says that the budget he is given