The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, also know as the McKinney-Vento Act, is federal legislation that ensures the educational rights and protections of children and youth experiencing homelessness. It requires all local educational agencies (LEAs) to ensure that homeless students have access to the same free, appropriate public education, including public preschools, as provided to other children and youth. The McKinney-Vento Act defines LEAs as public school districts, direct-funded and locally funded charter schools, and county offices of education. The McKinney-Vento Act also authorizes the funding for the federal Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program. (42 United States Code § 11431-11435)¹.

What is the definition of homelessness?²

The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children and youth as 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 and youth who may be living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, shelters;
• Children and youth who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a 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, or
• Migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are children who are living in similar circumstances listed above.

Local Resources

TAHOE YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES 
A non-profit organization that serves youth and families in South Lake Tahoe and Douglas County, NV.
Their mission is to promote the healthy development of children, families, and individuals through
        counseling and support programs.
   tahoeyouth.org
   (530) 541-2445 (CA)
       (775) 782-4202 (NV)

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER
Programs offered include bilingual counseling, bilingual advocacy, and translations for a variety of issues including mental
wellness, educational success, healthy living, navigating the health care system, job searches, and other resilience-building
activities.
   tahoefrc.org/
  [email protected]
   (530) 542-0740

LIVE VIOLENCE FREE
Programs offered include bilingual counseling, bilingual advocacy, and translations for a variety of issues including mental
wellness, educational success, healthy living, navigating the health care system, job searches, and other resilience-building
activities.
   liveviolencefree.org
   (530) 544-4444 (South Lake Tahoe)
   (530) 694-1853 (Alpine County)

Helpful Links

Lake Tahoe Unified School District
     Housing Survey 

California Department of Education
     Resources for Homeless Children and Youth 
     Join the Homeless Education Resources Listserv 

National Center for Homeless Education
     Informational Resources 
     Videos: Awareness Videos on Homelessness and Homeless Education

¹ California Department of Education Homeless Education, https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/hs/
² California Department of Education, https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/hs/homelessdef.asp