Schoolhouse Connection

Program goal: to increase participation in early childhood programs, high school graduation, and postsecondary completion for children and youth experiencing homelessness.program activities: in 2023, shc advocated successfully for new federal guidance to clarify and broaden the permissible uses of arp-hcy funds. Shc produced and disseminated 10 new resources and conducted 14 training sessions on the effective use of arp-hcy funds, and provided in-depth practical assistance and consultation to 23 state agencies and nine local agencies on using arp-hcy funds. Shc also directly answered over 500 questions from educators and service providers on a wide range of topics.

Youth leadership and scholarship programprogram goals: provide financial assistance and a long term peer and adult support network to a diverse group of youth who have experienced homelessness, to ensure every scholar completes postsecondary education, and to provide meaningful advocacy and leadership opportunities to all scholars.program activities: shc's youth leadership & scholarship (yls) program provides a scholarship award, college completion resources to meet emergency needs, one-on-one help navigating college and life, and a stable peer and adult support network. In 2023, shc hosted five in-person trips for its scholars, including a newly added trip for scholars transitioning into the workforce. Shc created a database of 123 reputable scholarships for which students experiencing homelessness qualify. Shc also created opportunities for scholars to engage with federal policymakers on barriers to education created by homelessness, including briefings with us department of education leadership and a congressional briefing with bipartisan sponsorship.

Early childhoodprogram goal: to increase access to high quality early childhood and parenting education to pregnant women and children up to age six experiencing homelessness.program activities: in 2023, shc launched a communications and research project to raise awareness and build understanding of early childhood homelessness in both the homelessness and early childhood development sectors. Shc worked with six states to develop action plans for increasing the enrollment of infants and toddlers experiencing homelessness, and published the first-ever state data analysis and policy recommendations on infant and toddler homelessness, establishing benchmarks against which to assess progress, and providing roadmaps at the local, state, and federal levels for increasing access to life-changing high-quality early learning programs.

Advocacy & public policy:program goal: to overcome homelessness through education, we must reform the systems that impact the lives of children, youth, and families experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.program activities: in 2023, shc engaged with more than 100 congressional offices to share information, connect them to their constituents, and advocate for policies to improve the lives of children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness. Shc mobilized support for a bipartisan "dear colleague letter" signed by 89 u.s. Representatives concerning appropriations for the education for homeless children and youth (ehcy) program, and organized support for the reintroduction of the bicameral fostering success in higher education act to improve college access, retention, and graduation rates for foster and homeless youth. Shc co-led advocacy for the introduction of the homeless children and youth act in the us house of representatives, h.r. 5221, bipartisan legislation to remove barriers to homelessness assistance for children, youth, and families by amending the definition of homelessness used by the u.s. department of housing and urban development (hud) to align with federal programs serving children and youth. Shc launched an advocacy network to educate, support, and create opportunities for local educators, service providers, and advocates across the country to advance federal and state policies on child and youth homelessness. Building teams for change:program goal: to reform state laws and policies to improve the lives of youth experiencing homelessness, driven by young people and local communities.program activities: 2023 state policy highlights include: providing assistance to support k12 state legislation that crossed the finish line in two states; supporting passage of legislation in Kansas to protect students experiencing homelessness from potentially exclusionary nonresident enrollment policies; supporting legislation in Maine that established a $2 million student homelessness prevention pilot program allowing mckinney-vento school district liaisons to pay for emergency housing-related needs; supporting legislative reform in Massachusetts for homeless family assistance and early intervention eligibility; helping to advance state policies on higher education and homelessness in Nevada, new hampshire, and new york. Shc launched an advocacy network in 2023 for the purpose of educating, supporting, and creating opportunities for local advocates across the country to advance federal and state policies on child and youth homelessness.higher educationprogram goal: to conduct outreach and technical assistance and engage in state and federal policy advocacy to increase access to and completion of postsecondary education for youth experiencing homelessness.program activities: in 2023, shc led national efforts to implement new policies for homeless and foster youth in the fafsa simplification act. Produced and disseminated six resources and conducted 15 trainings on the fafsa changes for diverse audiences, including school district liaisons, financial aid administrators, and service providers. The may webinar featuring presenters from the u.s. department of education drew more than 3,000 registrants. Shc also brought together more than 90 homeless higher education liaisons from 8 states to provide an opportunity for homeless higher education liaisons to share best practices for supporting students experiencing homelessness and engage in professional development activities. Shc was selected by suny as an external partner to support the development of a campus homeless liaison learning network, and assisted the Illinois state board of education in implementing a new state law requiring the designation of homeless liaisons on every campus.