Homelessness Assistance
IPS provides services to students and families experiencing homelessness in accordance with the McKinney-Vento Act. The McKinney-Vento Act ensures immediate enrollment and educational stability for homeless students.
The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless as an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, adequate nighttime residence. Any displaced child or youth who is residing temporarily with family or friends due to economic hardship or loss of housing, or is living in a shelter, motel or campgrounds, or is couch surfing.
Children and youth in transition who fit the McKinney-Vento definition have certain rights, including:
- Immediate enrollment, even if they lack the documents needed at the time of enrollment.
- Free meals and textbooks.
- Assistance with retrieval of immunization records and birth certificates
- Transportation to and from the school of origin.
- Referrals to community resources (i.e., counseling, medical, dental and mental health referrals).
- FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) verification letters.
- Participation in before and after-school programs.
- School uniforms and school supplies.
- Cap and gowns for graduating seniors.
District McKinney-Vento Act Contacts
Paula Jones
- 317-914-4197
- Jonesp@myips.org
- McKinney Vento Coordinator
Andrea Summers-Cotton
- 317-719-8874
- cottona@myips.org
- Foster Care Point of Contact
Charity Henry
- 317-719-4282
- Croneyc@myips.org
- Family Resource Center Coordinator
IDOE McKinney-Vento Act Contacts
Charie Gibson
- IDOE Homeless Education Specialist
- 317-232-0957
- McKinneyVentoPOC@doe.in.gov
Resource Links
- McKinney-Vento: Homeless Children and Youth Program
- Shelters, Hotels, and Transitional Housing options for displaced families
- Food Pantries by Zip Code
- The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
- The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY)
- National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE)