Blog #5- How Can We Prevent Poverty/ Homelessness in our Schools?

    

        Perhaps many individuals do not realize how serious homelessness and poverty is in our world and how really how many students suffer from homelessness. A question people may ask is who exactly are homeless students? Homeless students are often defined as students who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, that is, students living in shared housing, hotels or motels, shelters, and unsheltered places (such as cars, parks, abandoned buildings) (Cai, 2021). In order for us prevent and help students that are going through poverty and homelessness we need to be able to identify students who may be living this lifestyle.                        

                            

                                   

You can help end homelessness in 6 ways! (2019). Lutherwood. https://www.lutherwood.ca/about-us/agency-overview/enewsletter/end-homelessness-6-ways

    To start off, in order for individuals to prevent poverty/homelessness, some characteristics  of students who may be homeless may have developmental delays, learning disabilities, and reduced academic achievement. According to McKinney-Vento Quick Tip Series, homeless students may have poor hygiene, extreme exhaustion and lack of preparedness. Students who are homeless go through a ton of chronic toxic stress and environmental deprivation which causes academic skill deficiencies. This really relates to blog #4 and the mental health of these homeless students. Fully half of homeless children are held back for one grade (Homelessness and Academic Achievement, 2014). As a future teacher this is definitely something that needs to be aware of and brought attention to. We need to help our students who are going through poverty/homelessness. 

                                        

 Ujifusa, A. (2021, September 16). Our Student Homeless Numbers Are Staggering. Schools Can Be a Bridge to a Solution. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/leadership/our-student-homeless-numbers-are-staggering-schools-can-be-a-bridge-to-a-solution/2021/09

    One theme we are able to recognize throughout these film and readings is how many children/teens struggle everyday because of the poverty/homelessness they are going through. In the film "Homestretch" it was definitely an eyeopener for me, I never realized how many students struggled from homelessness and what it was like to live for these students. These students in this film are trying to build a future for themselves. It is so hard to see students who are willing to learn but struggle because they have no where to live. One of the students Roque would get dropped off everyday by his teacher and she noticed he was never going into a home, he was just circling around. Once she realized he did not have a home she offered for Roque to stay with her and he gladly did. It was heartbreaking to hear how Roque's parents did not offer for him to live with them and basically left him on the streets. Roque had to find colleges that would provide him an education that he did not have to pay for, which was something that was extremely difficult for Roque to do. 

    Since 2008, the number of homeless students identified by public schools each year has increased by more than 100% from approximately 680,000 to 1,384,000 students in 2019. In the 2016-17 school year, the number of homeless students exceeded 100,000 in California, New York, and Texas (Cai, 2021). It really is mind blowing and heartbreaking to see how many students struggles everyday and are homeless. This really makes me question where do homeless students live and go to school? It is known that three out of four homeless students live in cities and suburban areas, but in the 2018-19 school year, about 77% of homeless students lived in doubled-up or shared housing, and 12% lived in shelters, transitional housing, or foster care; 7% lived in hotels or motels, and 4% lived unsheltered (Cai, 2021).  These statistics are extremely important because it shows us where our students are and how many students struggle everyday. 

                       

                   

Number and percentage of homeless students enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools, by school district locale, primary nighttime residence, and selected student characteristics: 2016–17. (2019). Digest of Education Statistics. https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d19/tables/dt19_204.75b.asp

 

   Another theme throughout the film and readings are ways that our homeless students are being provided and cared for. The McKinney-Vento Act gives students who are homeless the right to receive a free; appropriate education, enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents; receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if requested by the parent or guardian; receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to each student's need. It is important that our students who may struggle are provided with resources that will benefit them and help students become successful. Thankfully the McKinney-Vento Act is a step closer to preventing poverty/homelessness in our schools. 

                                        

Five Concrete Ways Schools Can Support Homeless Youth. (2019, September 24). CITY Center for Collaborative Learning. https://cityccl.org/blog/five-concrete-ways-schools-can-support-homeless-youth/

    A book I believe that relates to this topic is "The Can Man" by Laura E. Williams. This book can be for second or third graders. I chose this book because it is about a boy named Tim who wishes for a skateboard for his birthday even though he knows his parents can't afford it. Tim watches a homeless man collect cans and it actually gives him the idea to raise the money for himself so he can buy a skateboard himself. This shows us how homelessness happens all around us and that is why this man was collecting cans, for money. Perhaps it teaches students to not judge others. 

                                                            

                                          

                                                             https://www.amazon.com/Can-Man-Laura-Williams/dp/1620145774

    A song that I found is "Another Day In Paradise" by Phil Collins. I chose this song because it talks about the social problem of homelessness. A random man on the street ignores the suffering of a homeless women when she calls out to him for help. The man acts like he can't hear the women and crosses the street to avoid her. As a future teacher, it is important when a student is struggling to always help them and provide the right education and care for them, not just ignore the lifestyle they are living. 

  

  In conclusion, it is important for teachers to be able to recognize when students may be struggling and if there lifestyle they are living is not ideal for their well-being. When we are able to recognize those who need help, we are able to take steps to prevent poverty/ homelessness. Although there are many things being done to help homeless students more needs to be done because statistics are still extremely high for homelessness in the United States. 

                                                                               References 

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

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

F. (2014, September 17). Homelessness and Academic Achievement: The Impact of

Childhood Stress on School Performance | Part Three in Our Homelessness in the Classroom

Series. Firesteel. http://firesteelwa.org/2014/09/homelessness-and-academic-achievement

the-impact-of-childhood-stress-on-school-performance/

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