Jones County Public Schools provides a Homeless Education Program for students who qualify for assistance under the Title VIIB of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act reauthorized in December 2015 by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). This program ensures educational rights and protections for children and youth experiencing homelessness.

Who is Homeless?
The term “homeless children and youth” –
A. means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and
B. includes

• children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals;
  

• children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings…

• children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and

• migratory children (as defined in 1309 of ESSA) who qualify as homeless for the purposes of this subtitle because the children are living in circumstances described in this definition.

Over 1.35 million children and youth experience homelessness in a year. Families are the fastest-growing segment of the homeless population in the United States, accounting for approximately 40% of those in homeless situations. Children and youth in homeless situations often do not fit society’s stereotypical images. For example, many children who are homeless are very young; in fact, over 40% of children living in homeless shelters are under the age of five. The primary causes of homelessness among unaccompanied youth are physical and sexual abuse by a parent or guardian, neglect, parental substance abuse, and family conflict.

Program Services

Jones County Public Schools aims to meet the needs of students who fit the homeless criteria as prescribed by the McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act. 

Services

• Expedite school enrollment and transfer of student/school records.

• Provide enrichment/tutoring services and transportation as needed.

• Coordinate services between the schools and agencies to meet individual student needs, as well as the needs of their families.

• Provide information to parents and unaccompanied youth regarding their educational rights.
  

• Provide clothing and school supplies as needed.
  

Useful Links

• https://hepnc.uncg.edu/

• https://nche.ed.gov/mckinney-vento-definition/

• https://nche.ed.gov/parent-resources/
  

Jones County Public Schools Homeless Education Data Counts by year:

2021-22: 24
2022-23: 49
2023-24: 30

If you have any questions or concerns throughout the year, please feel free to contact your

Jones County Public Schools Homeless Liaison:
Carly Humphrey at carly.humphrey@jonesnc.net or 252-397-0810.

North Carolina State Coordinator:
Lisa Phillips; lphillip@serve.org; 336-315-7491.