The McKinney Vento Homeless Education Assistance Program protects the right for homeless children and youth to receive a free and appropriate public education.

Homelessness includes children and youth who are living with a friend, relative or someone else because they lost their home or can’t afford housing, children and youth who are staying in a motel or hotel due to lack of adequate alternative accommodations, children and youth who are living in an emergency or transitional shelter or a domestic violence shelter. It also includes children and youth who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations or many other similar settings.

Under the law, no student shall be stigmatized by school personnel due to 

Unaccompanied Youth

Unaccompanied homeless youth are young people experiencing homelessness who are not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. The prevalence of youth homelessness is similar in rural, suburban and urban areas.

Homelessness among unaccompanied youth is most commonly caused by severe family dysfunction, and exacerbated by poverty.  Family dysfunction includes abuse, conflict, and substance abuse.

More information: 

TEHCY - Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth