The purpose of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Children and Youth Education Program is to ensure that all children and youth have equal access to the same free and appropriate public education, including preschool education, as non-homeless children and youth. To ensure the success of all students, the Riverside County Office of Education assists in developing and implementing policies and procedures for the education of homeless children and youths across Riverside County. The program takes a collaborative approach by providing technical assistance to district homeless liaisons, social services agencies, and community-based organizations.

The McKinney-Vento Act is still fully in effect during the COVID-19 pandemic and the expectation is many new families and youth will fall into homelessness due to the economic crisis, with many urgent needs. It is imperative that McKinney-Vento liaisons continue their work in the identification, enrollment, and connection to services for homeless students.

• Strategies for Identification of McKinney-Vento/Homeless Students
• Resources and Rights Flyer for Homeless Students
• 2-1-1 Riverside County Resource Directory
• Homeless Sleep Safety Resources and Directory
• Riverside County Continuum of Care Supports
• Riverside County Homeless Housing Services
  Homeless students in need of housing, can call Home Connect at 1-800-498-8847. They will be enrolled in the program and connected with a navigator or outreach staff member from an agency in Riverside County who will walk alongside them during the process of securing housing.

Definition of Homeless

The term homeless children and youth means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This definition also includes:

• Children and youth who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason.
• Children who may be living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, shelter, or awaiting foster care placement.
• Children and youth who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
• Children and youth who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings.
• Migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are children who are living in similar circumstances listed above.
• Children and youth living in these settings meet criteria for the McKinney-Vento definition of homelessness and have educational rights.

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