Service for Homeless Students
A homeless student is one who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. This includes students who are staying in transitional or emergency shelters, campgrounds, motels, sharing housing with other families due to a loss of housing or an inability to afford housing, abandoned in a hospital, staying in a substandard housing or living in places not ordinarily used for sleeping and students who have run away or have been thrown out of their homes. A homeless student may stay in the same school all year, if feasible, even is he/she moves, or may enroll in the school serving his/her temporary address.
Homeless students are automatically eligible to participate in the school meals program, instructional services through Title I, and other district services intended to support academic success such as tutoring and transportation to the school of best interest. Please contact the school principal, family school liaison, or Homeless Services office (816) 521-5300 for further information.
Main Program Office
Board of Education Building
201 N. Forest Ave Independence, MO 64050
(816) 521-5300 (816) 521-5664 (fax)
Schedule: Monday – Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Program Contacts
McKinney-Vento Liaison: Nicole Sequeira (816) 521-5300 ext. 10036 nicole_sequeira@isdschools.org
McKinney-Vento Program Case Manager: Angie Schnetzer (816) 382-2912 angie_schnetzer@isdschools.org
Who can we help?
Children and youth in temporary housing situations may be eligible for services and have certain legal rights if they are:
- living with a friend, relative or someone else because they lost their home or can’t afford a home, or are runaways;*
- staying in a motel or hotel;*
- living in an emergency or transitional shelter or a domestic violence shelter;
staying in substandard housing;* - living in a car, park, public place, abandoned building or bus or train station;
- living in a campground or an inadequate trailer home;
- abandoned in a hospital;
- living in a runaway or homeless youth shelter.
Note: * Consideration of each individual case, along with the permanency of the situation, may be needed to determine if students in these circumstances are homeless.
How can community members help?
The Independence School District established a Homeless Benevolence Fund in 2005 to help with “quality of life” needs such as those listed below. Since then the Fund has received many generous donations from individuals and organizations like the Woman’s Civic Club of Independence, MO.
When no other resources can be found to meet the need, Benevolence Fund charitable donations are used for things like:
- Cap & Gown Expenses
- Yearbooks
- School pictures
- Recreational field trips
- Prom/Homecoming outfits
- Emergency assistance
Charitable contributions may be made to the “Independence School District” with “Homeless Benevolence Fund” in the memo line. Please contact Nicole Sequeira at 521-5300 ext.10036 for additional information.
Other ways you can help?
- Participate in back-to-school efforts and holiday giving.
- Contact the principal or family school liaison at your neighborhood school.
- Partner with community organizations to serve homeless families.
- Advocate for affordable housing in our community.
- Spread the word about educational rights for homeless students!