JPS seeks federal grant for homeless students

The number of children defined as homeless in the Jackson Public School District increased by almost 1,500 from the 2013-2014 school year to last year, and the district is planning to reapply for a federal grant that will allow it to continue providing services to those students.

The definition of homeless spans beyond that of children living on the streets or in shelters to include children who live in shared housing that is not adequate or fixed, according to federal law.

"These children are often living with family members because of economic hardship," Jackson Public Schools Executive Director of Federal Programs Abby Webley explained.

For example, if a child and his immediate family move in with an aunt or grandmother because the parent is not able to afford rent or a mortgage, he or she could be classified as "homeless" and eligible to receive free school uniforms, tutoring and books provided by the McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Grant.

2,890 of the 3,086 students classified as homeless in JPS last year fell into that category, Webley said.

Webley recently received approval from the school board in June to apply for the McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Grant again for the upcoming school year. The district received around $151,000 last school year, and Webley hopes to receive around the same amount for the next school year.

JPS has been applying for the grant funds for more than five years, Webley said, and the fact that many other school districts don't apply works to JPS' advantage.

"Because 'homelessness' is such a stigma and a lot of people don't want to do the grant and paperwork and all the documentation, a lot of our (school) districts don't apply for the grant," Webley explained. "However, we don't mind going that extra mile because we want to serve our community … They will tell you they have no homeless children, but that's not accurate."

JPS works in partnership with homeless shelters in the city, including all of the Stewpot shelters and Lizzie's House, a transitional shelter for women and children.

Sharon Ranson and her nine-year-old have been at Lizzie's House for a year and a half. She said she was glad her daughter was able to stay at the same school after Ranson lost her job and her home.

Ranson said although she's had trouble with getting steady transportation to and from the shelter to the school for her daughter, the tutoring services provided by JPS have made a big difference.

"She did great on the third grade reading test," Ranson said, noting her daughter has continued to keep up in school. " ... Every week they come and help her with her homework and on Thursdays, they come and do homework and take them out as a treat. They actually worked with her all the way through the month of June."

Yolanda Kirkland, who oversees the youth program at Stewpot, said the services children in the shelters receive are vital and ensure students don't lose sight of their academics when going through a transitional time.

"(The tutors) are a real big help. A lot of the women in the shelters are looking for jobs and when the kids come home (to the shelter), they don't normally have help with homework," Kirkland said. " … They also help with picking up kids when they move out of their home and don't have a place to go."

She said one tutor is continuing to work with a student through the summer to ensure the child is ready for school when the new year starts.

Kirkland also said they've had kids come in to the shelters who aren't passing and who, with the help of a tutor, end up passing by the end of the school year.

Betty Robinson, the director of Lizzie's House, said school-age children at the shelter have been receiving tutoring from JPS for almost 10 years.

"Most of the children they have worked with, their grades have improved as well as their self-esteem," Robinson said.

School officials determine who is considered "homeless" when students submit enrollment information at the beginning of each school year. At that time last year, 128 children in JPS were living in shelters; 42 in motels or hotels; 24 moving from place to place; none living in a car and one student was living in an inadequate dwelling.

Webley said the numbers fluctuate from year to year, noting the number of children classified as homeless dropped from 2,072 in the 2012-2013 school year to 1,611 in 2013-2014.

The funding is put towards school uniforms, books, personal hygiene items, laptops and other technology for shelters where students are staying, and tutoring, among other resources.

The amount districts receive each year is based on availability, not the number of students needing services, Webley said.

Fourteen other school districts in Mississippi received grant money from McKinney-Vento in 2013-2014, according to the Mississippi Department of Education.

Contact Kate Royals at (601) 360-4619 or kroyals@gannett.com. Follow @KRRoyals on Twitter.