There are about 110,000 homeless students in schools statewide, including thousands right here in North Texas. As part of 四虎影院鈥檚 American Graduate series , Monday on Think, Krys Boyd talked to a panel of experts about the issue:
Technically, you can have a roof over your head and still be considered homeless.
鈥淭he majority of our children 鈥� are living doubled up, which means they鈥檙e with friends or family due to economic hardship," says PJ Holland-Rasor, the director of student support for McKinney ISD. 鈥淲e also have children who are in hotels 鈥� the daily-rate hotels 鈥� with their families. We do have those who are considered unaccompanied youth 鈥� that means they鈥檙e not living with their parents when they鈥檙e living with their friends and family. We have those who are in shelters. 鈥� And then unsheltered, which means they鈥檙e in their car, campground, on a street.鈥�
Many of those students living on the street also feel alienated and isolated. Ashley Lind is the CEO of Dallas鈥� , which supports at-risk youth.
鈥淢aybe they have some sexual orientation questions that they鈥檙e struggling with, or maybe they鈥檝e become pregnant and they鈥檙e afraid to share that, or maybe they have shared that with their parent and the parent has told them to leave," she said. "Substance abuse and those types of things are also things that they struggle with and that ultimately may lead to residing on the street or sofa surfing.鈥�
Homelessness is often a fluid situation, which can make it tough to identify these students. Also making it tough: the students don鈥檛 want their classmates to know.
鈥淚t is very difficult to identify them, because they don鈥檛 want to be identified many times," says June Davis, director of special programs for Fort Worth ISD. "They try to hold it together and come to school, and many times they鈥檙e tardy when they come, or they don鈥檛 have adequate clothing or school supplies or the things they need to be successful in school, and maybe a friend will share with the counselor or teacher the situation that鈥檚 going on with that student.鈥�
All of our guests say consistency is key. Whether it鈥檚 providing tutors to make sure students stay up on their studies, clothes or even transportation. It鈥檚 all about providing stability when life outside the classroom is in flux.
Tune in Tuesday morning 8:20 during Morning Edition to He鈥檚 the school band鈥檚 drum major, runs track and wrestles for the school, and he鈥檚 officially homeless. Think re-airs tonight at 10, or .
