Homelessness Increased At CCR-1 During 2023-24 Year

Crawford County R-1 had an increase of homeless students during the 2023-24 school year, according to a report.

Erin Mades, the director of Special Services at the school district, presented her report to the board on April 16.

The report said there were 47 homeless students, up from 40 in the 2022-23 year and 39 in the 2021-22 year.

Nearly half were at the elementary school.

There were 22 overall, with three withdrawn.

That doubled from the previous school year, which had 11.

At the middle school, there were 14 and three withdrew. Last year had 11 homeless students.

The high school had 11 homeless students and two were early graduates.

Last year there were 18 and two withdrew.

During the 2021-22 year, there were 14. Seven withdrew, two were unaccompanied youth and one was an early graduate.

Students who are homeless are defined as lacking a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. That includes children sharing the housing of other persons due to loss, economic hardship or a similar reason; living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters or are abandoned in hospitals.

It’s also defined as children whose primary nighttime residence is a public or private place not designed for or used as a regular sleeping accommodation.

Children who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations or they are migratory are also defined as homeless.

When families complete enrollment or back to school paperwork, Homeless/Migrant & ELL (English Language Learners) are part of the enrollment.

The school is diligent in identifying students they may have concerns about. Contact is made with the students or parents and forms are completed.

Mades said in her report that they want to ensure students “are safe and are receiving the same opportunities as all students.”

Mades noted that they are still in need of more local resources for students and families experiencing homelessness. 

“As a district we will continue to identify and assist students who are homeless, migrant and English language learners,” she wrote. 

Additional funding was awarded this year that will allow the district to buy needed supplies for students in need of hygiene and clothing. They were also able to purchase Chromebooks to support their learning.