Number of homeless students at record high in W.Va. schools

[theHandpuppet]

The Charleston Gazette
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Number of homeless students at record high in W.Va. schools
By Mackenzie Mays, Staff writer

A record number of homeless students are attending West Virginia’s public schools.

More than 8,300 students were labeled as homeless in the state last school year — an increase of about 9 percent since the year prior, according to the National Center for Homeless Education.

About 70 percent of those students are “doubling up,” or living with grandparents or several family members in close quarters, while about 25 percent are living in shelters, and the rest are on the streets or living in motels...

...Derenge assumes the latest numbers are even higher, though — pointing to an under-reporting problem in the state as a major issue.

- See more at: http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20141102/GZ01/141109949/1419#sthash.zYGBLQ37.dpuf

[MADem]

1. It would be interesting to learn if they are using a refined metric for "homelessness."

In the old days, if you moved in with grandma or Auntie Melba, you weren't regarded as homeless--you were living in an "extended family" situation. It might not be optimal or desirable, but I don't think it was viewed as homelessness.

Also, the state is chasing federal grant money, and that might play a role in how aggressive they get in identifying a sometimes reluctant population (which they admit has been an issue):

Identifying homeless students in the state is especially important because that 70 percent depends on schools for help, since many in that statistical group don’t qualify for assistance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“(Homelessness) is a problem that’s just going to expand, especially in West Virginia,” Derenge said. “There just aren’t jobs available like there used to be.”

More than $300,000 in federal grants the state receives each year to provide shelters with tutors and after-school programs is possibly the most successful attempt at helping homeless students stay on track in school, Derenge said.

- See more at: http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20141102/GZ01/141109949/1419#sthash.zYGBLQ37.ssSwXDvs.dpuf

I'm glad the state is working the issue, and the 'glass half full' is that these children are being helped to stay in school. If they dropped off the rolls, they wouldn't be counted or helped.

[theHandpuppet]

2. Yes, I also thought that was odd

I never knew that living with relatives was considered to qualify one as "homeless". Hell, that's very commonplace. Half the people in my neighborhood alone live in extended family situations. Maybe someone else here can explain this to me because that's just weird, IMHO.

[MADem]

3. If that kind of defining increases the available grant money, that's likely the motivation.

So long as it's going to at-risk kids, fine.