Student homelessness remains high in Grant County, according to IDOE statistics

Five years ago during the 2008-09 school year, Grant County schools reported 85 homeless students.

When the recession took a toll on the county during the 2009-10 school year, 211 homeless students were reported.

In 2010, the number fluctuated to 178, 119 during the 2011-12 school year and back to 178 during the 2012-12 school year.

Brenda McVicker, the director of elementary education at Marion Community Schools, said that schools in Grant County are always looking to meet the needs of the entire child, not just through academics.

“We realize that we have one of the highest homelessness rates among our youth in the state,” McVicker said. “So when a parent or student comes to us with issues of being homeless, we provide them with anything they need including transportation, clothing and food.”

McVicker said that Marion Schools provide resources to parents and students through the McKinney Vento grant funded by the state.

“We have been able to help parents and students for several years with the grant,” she said. “Unfortunately, each year the state cuts our funds, which makes it difficult to go above the expectations for fighting youth homelessness.”

According to McVicker, the grant has been cut by 7 percent since last year, reducing the funds from $35,000 to $32,550.

“I have been working with Marion Community Schools for more than three years and each year the funds are cut significantly,” she said.

McVicker said Marion schools have partnered with United Way, Family Service Society and the Grant County Economic Growth Council to help with the issue of youth homelessness.

According to McVicker, the economy is a major causation of the homelessness rates among youth.

“I most often see parents and students who are homeless because a member of the family lost their job, or something unexpected happened, such as a house fire,” she said. “It’s difficult to keep track of why they are homeless because we generally don’t question it in the first stages of becoming aware that they are having an issue.”   

Glenn Augustine, the interim manager for the Indiana Youth Institute, said that student homelessness statistics are difficult to determine.

“Although schools do their best to identify homeless students, it is difficult to because sometimes a student who is homeless isn’t living on the streets or in a shelter,” Augustine said. “Some students could be couch surfing, meaning they are going from home to home.”

McVicker said that the teachers at Marion schools are always looking out for students that may be experiencing homelessness.

According to Augustine, there are certain signs that teachers look for when identifying homeless students.

“There could be changes in the appearance of a child,” Augustine said. “Perhaps they are coming in more tired than usual, asking about food or wearing the same outfit day after day.”

According to Augustine, every school district must have a McKinney Vento liaison to try to help identity students who are homeless.

Augustine also said that homelessness affects students in many ways.

“A child who is homeless may not know where he or she is going to sleep that night or whether they will have enough food,” he said. “This can affect their academic work, and even their health.”

Just like an adult that has a job, McVicker said, a student has school and that is their job.

On Sept. 29, McVicker will be attending the Indiana Youth Institute seminar on the topic of youth homelessness at the Family Service Society in Marion.

“This annual seminar is great because we talk about different ways to support all types of youth, including those who are at a higher risk of experiencing poverty,” McVicker said. “I think it helps with awareness in the community and provides us with the opportunity to build partnerships.”

According to a press release from the Institute, the seminar will address how homelessness impacts a young person’s education, chances of future success and also the toll that is taken on the child’s emotional, mental and physical well-being.