How to Assist Students Experiencing Homelessness

In today’s episode of School Safety Today by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso sat down with Kenya Haynes, Program Specialist at the National Center for Homeless Education to discuss the complexities surrounding the issue of students experiencing homelessness and the educational strategies required to address these challenges effectively. 

• The broad definition of homelessness according to the McKinney-Vento Act and the criteria of having a living situation that is not fixed, regular, and adequate.  
• The critical role of local homeless education liaisons in school districts with students experiencing homelessness. 
• The need for empathy, compassion, and individualized attention in supporting these students. 

Guest Kenya Haynes is a program specialist at the National Center for Homeless Education. An educator for 25 years, she joined NCHE in 2018 after sixteen years at the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) where she focused her energy on working with vulnerable student populations. During her tenure at WDE, she worked with homeless education, dropout prevention, juvenile justice, gender equity, civil rights, school accreditation, gifted and talented education, homeschooling, Title I, and the state system of support. She is honored to have served on the board of the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth and as liaison to the National Expert Panel for the Education of Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At-Risk.