Invisible Struggles: Addressing Poverty and Homelessness in Schools

Poverty and homelessness in schools are complex issues that can have profound impacts on students’ academic performance, emotional well-being, and their overall path in life. When students lack stable housing or live in poverty, they face numerous challenges that can impede their ability to succeed in school.

After watching “The Homestretch” and reading the articles provided in the module, two themes that are shown in all of these is resilience. Resilience is shown as the students navigate the complexities of poverty and homelessness while trying to graduate and pursue their goals in life. Resilience is a main theme in all of these texts since it is shown through various behaviors, attitudes, and achievements despite facing significant challenges related to housing instability.

In the documentary “The Homestretch”, the statement “homeless is a situation, it’s not who you are” emphasizes the idea that homelessness is a temporary circumstance that someone may experience, but it does not define their identity or worth as a person. It reminds us to view individuals experiencing homelessness with empathy, understanding, and a recognition of their inherent humanity and potential for positive change. It encourages us to address homelessness as a societal issue while also respecting the dignity and worth of each person affected by it.

Another theme shown in the documentary and the readings is hope. All of the community and support services that are provided for them allow them to have this space to communicate and be there for each other during these difficult times. The documentary “The Homestretch” shows an emergency youth shelter where individuals can go and shower, do laundry, eat a meal, and sleep. Emergency youth shelters play a crucial role in addressing the immediate needs of homeless young people while also offering comprehensive support services to help them rebuild their lives and move towards a brighter future. Since some of the articles show charts and graphs of how homelessness and poverty are unfortunately increasing, it is important that as a community and society, fund and advocate for these individuals and make plans to build and create more of these shelters.

One song that can connect to the themes shown in the film and readings is “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman. This song addresses the themes of poverty, struggle, and the desire for a better life. The narrative of the song revolves around a young woman who dreams of escaping her difficult circumstances in her fast car representing the desire to escape poverty. It emphasizes the importance of home and perseverance.

One book that can connect to the themes shown in the film and readings is “Fly Away Home” by Eve Bunting. This book tells the story of a young boy and his father who live in an airport terminal. Readers gain insight into the challenges faced by families experiencing poverty and homelessness and the importance of hope and resilience.

Cai (2020) stated numerous funding sources to support homeless students. As future educators, we must provide support and resources to these families and understand the laws and regulations that surround them. For example, according to the U.S. Department of Education (ED), “All students experiencing homelessness are eligible for Title I services even if they are not enrolled in Title I schools.”

Additionally, it is important we support all of our students and understand the McKinney-Vento Act. This act states that “children and youth who lack “a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence” will be considered homeless.” It also states that students have the right to receive a free, appropriate public education, enroll in school immediately, receive transportation to and from school, and many more (Mc-Kinney Vento Homeless Education, 2021). In the documentary, one of the individuals towards the beginning of the film explains how his teacher allows him to stay at her house whenever he needs somewhere to sleep and eat. According to ED, all public school districts must comply with the requirements of the McKinney-Vento Act to identify and serve school-age children and youth experiencing homelessness (Cai, 2020). In the United States alone, there are over one million students experiencing homelessness. Things need to change and we need to start taking action now.

Resources:

Bunting, E., & Himler, R. (1991). Fly away home. New York, Clarion Books.

Cai, J. (2020, July 27). Homeless Students in Public Schools Across America: Down but Not OutLinks to an external site.. National School Boards Association. https://www.nsba.org/Perspectives/2021/homeless-students

Chapman, T. (1988). Tracy Chapman. New York, N.Y., Elektra.

De Mare, A., Kelly, K., & Taber, K. (Producers), & De Mare, A., & Kelly, K. (Directors). (2014). The homestretch [Streaming video]. United States: Bullfrog Films.

Mc-Kinney Vento Homeless Education. (2021). New York State Education Department. http://www.nysed.gov/essa/mckinney-vento-homeless-educationLinks to an external site.

National Center for Homeless Education. (2022).  Student Homelessness in America School Years 2018-19 to 2020-21.  Student Homelessness in America (ed.gov)Links to an external site.

New York State Education Department. (2022, August 17). New York State Department of Education Awards $7.1 Million in Federal Grants to Programs Supporting Homeless Students. http://www.nysed.gov/news/2022/new-york-state-education-department-awards-71-million-federal-grants-programs-supporting