Students in Temporary Housing

The law requires that students living in temporary housing have the same public education and the same educational services as permanently housed students.

Complete the Housing Questionnaire to help determine services a student may be eligible to receive.

Get Help

We have an office that can help families who live in temporary housing. To get you to the right person, we’ll need to know what district you live in now.

Find your District

Call 311 and ask for a representative. Tell them:

• you are looking for the school district; and
• where you are currently living.

Or go to Find a School and:

• Type your current address
• Click Search

Contacts

• NYC Department of Youth and Community Developmentoffers drop-in centers, runaway and homeless youth resources.
• Student Enrollment: Visit a Family Welcome Center or call 718-935-2009
• Use Find a School to get to find your schools parent coordinator contact information so you can connect with them and ask about parent programs.
• Special Education Hotline 718-935-2007
• Know your rights regarding McKinney Vento Homeless Act: 800-388-2014
• State Program Associate for the NYS Education Department Melanie P. Faby 518-473-0295 Fax 518-486-1762
• Call 718-392-8855 For information about yellow buses or visit our transportation web page.

Resources

• NYSTEACHS at Advocates for Children
• The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) Scholarship Fun
• NYC.gov Runaway & Homeless Youth
• School House Connection
• Children's Health Fund
• NYC.gov Homelessness Prevention

Frequently Asked Questions

Which students are considered homeless?

A student who lives in any of the following situations is considered, under the McKinney-Vento Act, homeless:

• A shelter or transitional shelter,
• A motel,
• A car, bus or train,
• A park or public place,
• An abandoned building, or
• With friends or relatives because they cannot find or afford housing.
  

Who is an unaccompanied youth?

An unaccompanied youth is a person, under the age of 18, who lives in one of the situations listed above and is not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.

What education rights does an unaccompanied homeless youth have?

Under the McKinney-Vento Act, an unaccompanied homeless youth has the right to:

• A free public education
• Immediate enrollment in their zoned school
• Attend school no matter how long they have lived at their current location
• Stay in the school they attended before becoming homeless or choose to attend their new zoned school
• Transportation services to and from school
• Not be denied immediate school enrollment just because of their situation, or because they lack enrollment documentation
• Not be separated from the regular school program because they are homeless, and to
• Receive free school meals
  

Where can I get help in schools?

Every borough has at least one Students in Temporary Housing Content Expert who works with schools and manages programs and services for homeless youth.

The STH Content Expert also supervises a team of Family Assistants.  Family Assistants are located at shelters and in some schools. They help families with enrollment, getting immunizations and school records, and arranging transportation to and from school.

Additionally, both District 75 and District 79 have STH staff members you can contact. Their contact information is listed above.

How do I choose a school if my child is homeless?

When choosing a school for your child, you can choose:

• The school your child attended before they became homeless,
• The last school your child was enrolled in; or
• Any school available to a non-homeless child who lives in the same area as the homeless child.
  

How do I enroll my child?

The following information applies only if your child is currently not enrolled in school, or you want to change your child’s school.

• Elementary school: enroll your child at the school for which they are zoned. If you live in a city homeless shelter, the family assistant at your shelter can help you. If there is no family assistant in your shelter, or if you are not residing in a shelter, contact your school or the STH liaison for help.
• Middle school: enroll your child at the school for which they are zoned. However, if you live in a district that does not have zoned middle schools, go to the Borough Enrollment Center. Call 311 for the address of your nearest Borough Center.
• High school: all high school students must enroll at the Borough Enrollment Center.

What if there is a disagreement about enrollment?

If you and the Office of Enrollment disagree about something, your child must be immediately admitted to the school at which they are seeking enrollment. Then the Office of Enrollment will review and decide the disagreement. You will receive a letter from Office of Enrollment explaining their decision. You can challenge (appeal) the decision. An STH staff member will help you.

Is transportation help available?

Homeless students have the right to transportation to and from school. Buses are provided for students in Pre-K to grade six. If busing is not available, your child is eligible for a student MetroCard.

If your child receives a student MetroCard (and is in Pre-K–6 grade), you are also eligible for public transportation help. This is so that you can ride public transportation with your child.

Students in grades 7–12 are eligible for a student MetroCard.

For more information, contact a staff member in the Students in Temporary Housing Office (listed above).