Kalispell Heart Program

Summer is almost here. I can feel in peeking around the corner, waiting for the last throes of Spring to dissipate. And with the arrival of summer comes the abandonment of anything school-related. Kids are freed from the constraints of homework and detention and school lunches the really love but pretend to hate so they can seem cool. But some students dread this time if year because they will lose the routine of a daily schedule that afforded them structure and stability. To homeless students, summer is not synonymous with vacation.

I will address this issue soon, but wanted to take this opportunity to inform you about a great site that will keep you abreast about the educational needs and challenges facing the homeless students in Kalispell. Please go to http://kalispellheartprogram.org/ for more information about how you can help.

Families with children are by most accounts among the fastest growing segments of the homeless population. In the United States today, an estimated 1.35 million children are likely to experience homelessness over the course of a year (The Institute for Children and Poverty). This number represents two percent of all children in the United States, and ten percent of all poor children in the United States.

Homelessness has a devastating impact on homeless children and youth’s educational opportunities. Residency requirements, guardianship requirements, delays in transfer of school records, lack of transportation, and lack of immunization records often prevent homeless children from enrolling in school. Homeless children and youth who are able to enroll in school still face barriers to regular attendance: while 87% of homeless youth are enrolled in school, only 77% attend school regularly (U.S. Department of Education).

In addition to enrollment problems, the high mobility associated with homelessness has severe educational consequences. Homeless families move frequently due to limits on length of shelter stays, search for safe and affordable housing or employment, or to escape abusive partners. All too often, homeless children have to change schools because shelters or other temporary accommodations are not located in their school district. In recent years, 42% of homeless children transferred schools at least once, and 51% of these students transferred twice or more (Institute for Children and Poverty).

Every time a child has to change schools, his or her education is disrupted. According to some estimates, 3-6 months of education are lost with every move. In a recent study of homeless children in New York City, 23% of homeless children repeated a grade, and 13% were placed in special education classes, many times inappropriately (Institute for Children and Poverty). Homeless children are thus at high risk for falling behind in school due to their mobility. Without an opportunity to receive an education, homeless children are much less likely to acquire the skills they need to escape poverty as adults.

-thanks to national coalition on homelessness.