Homeless students a concern in region

School districts work to assist pupils, families who lack reliable shelter

In Blair County, homelessness among students is a growing concern with 390 students or families identified as homeless this year.

Statewide, at least 32,666 students were affected by homelessness during the 2020-21 school year, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

The term homeless encompasses a wide range of circumstances. While students and/or families might have a roof over their head for the night, they're considered homeless if they're sharing accommodations with another person, living in motels or hotels, trailer parks, campgrounds or shelters.

If someone considers their primary residence to be a public or private place not designed for regular sleeping accommodations -- such as cars, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations -- they're also considered homeless.

To help students and families find solutions, school districts have liaisons or social workers like Shannon Flanagan, who can provide information on available programs and reach out to those in need.

Districts assist students who are homeless and are eligible for free meals, transportation, assistance with clothing, school supplies, medical help, housing and other personal needs.

In the Tyrone Area School District, one family was left homeless after the COVID-19 pandemic impacted their ability to purchase the home in which they were living. The family was forced to double up with various families, Flanagan said.

There are a multitude of reasons families and individual students end up being classified as homeless, school officials said, noting economic hardship, loss of a home due to fire or unsafe or insufficient living conditions. In addition, youths can end up homeless if they are kicked out of their home or choose to leave their homes, Flanagan said.

AASD has more than 100 homeless students

During the 2021-22 school year, Altoona Area Assistant Superintendent Brad Hatch said the number of homeless students in the district topped 200. This year, more than 120 students are considered homeless.

"Our staff provides immediate and direct support for students and families and assists in accessing services and assistance available in the Altoona area," Hatch said.

Another resource for Altoona Area students is the R.K. Agarwal, M.D. & Family Teen Center & Shelter at 1701 Sixth Ave.

"Our teen shelter provides emergency shelter for both males and females up to 21 that are a runaway, homeless, a pushout or need crisis intervention," director Peggy Campbell said.

Students attend school while at the shelter and receive meals and counseling.

Even teens who aren't homeless can be found at the center, as it offers a safe space for teens to drop in for homework help, dinner and to participate in group discussions.

The center is open from 3 to 7 p.m. weekdays and from noon to 7 p.m. on weekends.

"Some teens come here because they need a place to take a shower or just want to take time to hang out with friends," Campbell said.

Help available

Homeless liaisons in Tyrone, Claysburg-Kimmel and Bellwood-Antis said they have identified about 20 students and families as homeless in their districts.

"This is up from previous years," Flanagan said.

In talking with other area homeless liaisons, Flanagan has found they are all seeing an increase in the number of students identified as unaccompanied youth in the teenage population.

The first step in getting help for the homeless is to identify those who qualify, Flanagan said.

She receives referrals or concerns from various sources such as teachers, counselors and other students. Students who are homeless can also reach out to district officials.

Once students or families are identified, liaisons discuss what is needed and may set up transportation to school, clothing, backpacks, gift cards for essentials and referrals to local agencies for assistance with housing or mental health needs.

Flanagan said great community resources can be found using 211, Community Action, local charities and churches.

Julie Heckman, a social worker for Claysburg-Kimmel School District, said the number of homeless students has increased since the pandemic for reasons of job loss or not finding adequate housing.

"We have many resources for families that are identified as being homeless," Heckman said.

Families and students can take advantage of a community closet in the elementary and high school building that contains clothing, food and hygiene items.

There are also backpacks given each weekend to those in need and gas gift cards given to families to help get students to and from school.

Claysburg-Kimmel was a recipient of a grant to purchase a refrigerator and washer and dryers for families to use.

"Each year we do a sock drive during homeless awareness week, to offer these to families in the community that have a need," Heckman said.

Claysburg's community also has a food bank and a Salvation Army that helps families.

Many of the churches have ministries where they work together to offer resources for families including the Claysburg Church of God, which has a bi-monthly clothing drive.

Bellwood-Antis' homeless liaison, Danielle McNelis said with about 1,200 students, it averages about 25 students per year who experience homelessness.

"I believe that the PA state average of students experiencing homelessness is also around 2%, so we're consistent with the state average," she said.

Superintendent Edward DiSabato said the school works to ensure that displaced students are identified and that they have access to resources.

"We try to remove any barriers for these students and families and connect them with local services and community support," he said.

Spring Cove School District also saw 2% of its students experiencing homelessness in 2021-22 and the current school year, according to homeless liaison Harry Gregg.

"When a student is experiencing homelessness, the district's overall goal is to ensure educational stability for them throughout the school year," he said.

As a homeless liaison, he communicates with families experiencing homelessness to identify areas of need or to help families obtain any additional resources.

Spring Cove also has the support of a regional coordinator through IU28 which provides additional assistance. IU28 is a grant that assists low income areas.

Gregg said in cases where a student is now staying with family in a new district, the district of residence and origin work together to ensure educational stability for the child.

The Hollidaysburg Area School District usually records about 1% to 2% of its student population as homeless each year, said liaison Ben Caldwell.

The district is often supported by charitable organizations in the community to offer free backpacks with school and hygiene supplies.

Superintendent Lisa Murgas said Williamsburg Community School District's homelessness numbers remain relatively low.

"One of the reasons we are seeing homelessness is families having to leave their homes for one reason or another and having to stay with friends or family," she said.

"When we do have identified homeless students, we reach out to them and their families to determine what needs they may have," she said.

Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School identified 258 students and their younger siblings as homeless as of Oct. 31, 2022, according to McKinney-Vento guidelines, said Scot Rutledge, director of marketing and communications.

All cyber charter schools are required to identify homeless students, report them to state reporting systems to be counted for needs and funding allocation, and have all schools have access to McKinney-Vento funding, he said.

Academic advisers from the cyber school talk with families regularly and ask for address updates.

PA Cyber has a large support network of academic advisers, student assistance program professionals, and school counselors that can all assist families with their academic, social and basic needs.

"Families each have their own reasons, but we provide internet reimbursement or wireless card as well as needed technology and materials, so this relieves a financial burden and offers the flexibility to be transient if living conditions aren't stable," Rutledge said.

All schools can provide homeless students with school supplies, hygiene kits, masks, sanitizer, clothing and more, he said.

Mirror staff writer Cati Keith can be reached at 814-946-7535.