McKinney-Vento Program

McKinney Vento Program

Cuestionario sobre la vivienda del estudiante

Housing Questionnaire

The McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth Assistance Act is a federal law that ensures immediate enrollment and educational stability for homeless children and youth. McKinney-Vento provides federal funding to states for the purpose of supporting district programs that serve homeless students.

Defining Homelessness

The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children as "individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence." The act provides examples of children who would fall under this definition:

  • Children and youth sharing housing due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason

  • Children and youth living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camp grounds due to lack of alternative accommodations

  • Children and youth living in emergency or transitional shelters

  • Children and youth abandoned in hospitals

  • Children and youth whose primary nighttime residence is not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation (e.g. park benches, etc)

  • Children and youth living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations

  • Migratory children and youth living in any of the above situations​.​

McKinney-Vento Services 

Students who are eligible for McKinney-Vento funds are entitled to receive a variety of services. The primary responsibility of the District Liaison is to eliminate any barriers to the McKinney-Vento student’s right to education and school participation comparable of that of a student who is not homeless. The following are a list of services, which the Liaison will address and are available to the Student:

  • Immediate school enrollment despite missing documentation or records. 

  • Immediate free lunch.

  • Transportation to district school or school of origin either by school bus or Transit pass.

  • The right to attend the school attended prior to being displaced despite “residing” out of the district.

  • Schools supplies and Tutoring referrals

  • School fees waived/paid for with McKinney-Vento funds; ASB card (for those wanting play a sport or need it for another activity: band, choir…etc.), PE attire, library fees or any other fee associated with participating in school-sponsored activities. (Does not include an ASB card to attend games)

  •  Counseling and Social Services referrals

  •  Support with the referral process for services such as special Education/Gifted/Talented

  • Assistance with up to the purchase of needed documents (birth certificate, social security cards, medical records, etc.)

  • Community referrals/assistance with: addressing medical issues, applying for DSHS benefits, vocational, technical, after-school programs or any other identified need considered to be a barrier to the student’s education

  •  *High School Seniors-Assistance with applying for college, completing FAFSA, financial assistance with entrance exams and application fees.

Other services may be available on a case-by-case basis.


Please contact Amy Butcher, Special Programs Liaison, at (360) 538-8295 or by email to nbutcher@hoquiam.net to inquire about the program or with questions.