Carmichaels Area High School aiding homeless children
It may surprise some to learn that there are homeless children in Greene County. But, depending on what definition you use, the Carmichaels Area School District alone counted nine homeless children this year.
According to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, a child is considered homeless if they don’t have a fixed, regular place to live which entitles them to certain protections of the federal law for school stability.
Homeless categories include those living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations, motels, hotels, trailer parks or camp grounds. Another category also includes those sharing the housing of others due to a loss of housing, economic hardship or other issues.
According to Roberta Barr, Carmichaels district school counselor and homeless liaison, nine children have been identified as being homeless in the district this year, although some of them are no longer considered homeless.
“In the registration packet, we include a residency questionnaire to determine the possibility of homelessness,” Barr said. “We also try to be aware of possible homelessness throughout the year because the family breadwinner can lose their job (after they register for school) and other issues can contribute to homelessness.”
Sometimes parents will call the school and ask for help. Teachers can also pick up clues of homelessness from the stress children may be undergoing do to a house fire or flood or job loss. Depending on the need of the family or child, Barr offers support usually in the form of referrals to other agencies and counsels them as to eligibility for food stamps, health insurance and clothing.
With nearly two more months of winter weather left on the calendar, Amy Switalski, housing and resources director for Greene County Human Services, said that people needing shelter from the cold can take advantage of the Warm Nights 25 degrees and below program.
Free overnight stays for families and children are available at the Greene County Fairgrounds from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., December through March. Cots, bedding and hot showers are available at no charge to those needing shelter. The facility is manned by volunteers, and prior registration must be made by 4 p.m. on the day of the intended stay. No walk-ins are permitted. To register or for more information, phone 211 or 1-800-417-9460.
According to the Greene County Human Services Department website, the philosophy of the county is to keep people housed whenever possible and, if they become homeless, assist them to move to permanent housing. The department’s goal is to locate persons and families in the community and refer them to a program along its continuum of care for which they are eligible and that best fits their needs.
The Carmichaels Area School District also offers support to students through its backpack program, available to not only homeless children but also those whose family may be going through a difficult time.
Funded locally with random donations from churches, community members and the Greene County Community Fund, the backpack program gives these children shelf stable food items in a draw string bag each Friday before the weekend or the day before a holiday. The items include snacks such as Doritos, peanut butter and crackers, cereal bars, raisins, water and juice boxes — something to help tide them over the weekend or holiday.
“At this point, our cafeteria workers assemble the bags and stock them with items worth around $3.60,” said Sean Stark, food service manager. “We try to get the best price possible when purchasing the items, and put as much in each bag as we can.”
Stark said this year’s budgeting figure was a little lighter than usual, enough to serve around 15 students. Since then, the number of students participating in the program has grown to 22, and the remaining back pack resources are just enough to get through to the end of March.
Stark is asking donors who may want to pick up the shortfall to write a check out to the Carmichaels Area School District, memo it to the backpack program and mail it to the district at 215 N. Vine in Carmichaels 15320.