An individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including children and youth:
Living in emergency or transitional shelters
Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping grounds, or abandoned in hospitals
Living in cars, parks, public spaces, bus or train stations, or abandoned buildings
Having a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, regular sleeping accommodations
Awaiting foster careplacement
Doubled up with relatives or friends
Migratory children or youth living in circumstances described above
What Families Experiencing Homelessness Need to Know
Children and youth experiencing homelessness have a right to attend school.
Your do not need a permanent address to enroll your child in school.
Children and youth experiencing homelessness can stay in their school of origin or enroll in any public school that students living in the same attendance zone are eligible to attend, which ever circumstance proves to be in their best interest.
Schools must provide you with a written explanation if a placement dispute occurs. Contact your local Homeless Liaison for assistance in handling a placement dispute.
Your child cannot be denied school enrollment because school records or other enrollment documentation is not immediately available.
Your child may have the right to transportation services to and from the school of origin if determined feasible.
Your child has the right to participate in extracurricular activities and all federal, state, or local programs for which he/she is eligible. Transportation may not be available for these activities.
Unaccompanied youth have these same rights. (Contact your local Homeless Liaison.)
Legal Reference: The McKinney-Vento Assistance Act (42 U.S. C. 11431 et seq.) at Subtitle B of title VII. (Reauthorized 2002)
Free and Reduced Lunch Procedures
Homeless students are entitled to free or reduced breakfast and lunch and DO NOT need to fill out the regular application. To obtain meal assistance, please email the student's name, ID number, and school name to the Homeless Liaison, Leslie Hytonen, at
. The Homeless Liaison will approve the request and submit it to Food Services. Please do not contact Food Services directly; the request must be done through the homeless program.
Transportation Procedures
York County School Division will provide transportation assistance for homeless students so that the student may remain at his/her school of origin. This transportation is arranged through the Homeless Liaison's office. It takes three to five working days for transportation arrangements to be put in place. Transportation can also be arranged to accommodate those students who participate in after school activities. Once transportation is set up the parent/guardian is called and advised of the start date and time of the transportation.
To obtain transportation assistance, an email should be sent to Leslie Hytonen at
providing the following information:
Student(s) name(s) & ID #(s)
Name and address of the school that the student will attend
Address where the student is to be picked up
Name and contact number for the parent or guardian
Who are "Unaccompanied Youth?"
They are youth who are not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian including:
Young people who have run away from home.
Young people who have been forced to leave their homes.
Their possible living situations include:
Living with friends (couch surfing).
Living in shelters.
Living in cars, at campgrounds, in abandoned buildings or on the streets.
School may be the only safe, stable environment for unaccompanied youth. Schools can provide the needed support to ensure continued academic success for these vulnerable students. In addition to academics, schools can offer adult and peer support, meals, referral to medical and mental health services, sports clubs and other activities. Schools should also connect these young people to other resources and supports available in the community.
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act requires immediate enrollment of these students and protects their right to attend school without parental involvement. Schools must immediately enroll "unaccompanied youth" even if they do not have the documents that are usually required, such as proof of residence, school records, medical records, or guardianship papers. Transportation assistance must be provided if the student needs transportation to the school or origin.
Although there is no mandatory requirement to report an "unaccompanied youth" to law enforcement or Child Protective Services, a situation should be reported to CPS or the police if there is suspicion that the student is in an unsafe circumstance. For further assistance, contact the school division homeless liaison, Leslie Hytonen, at 757-833-7087.
Contact Information
Leslie Hytonen
Community Outreach Coordinator/Homeless Liaison
York County School Division
302 Dare Road
Yorktown, VA 23692
757-833-7087
Resources
Food & Clothing Resources
Fish: 757-220-9379
Parish Thrift Shop: 757-868-0357
St. Luke's Methodist Church Food Closet: 757-898-9057
Salvation Army Food Pantry: 757-229-6651
The Breakthrough Worship Center Food Pantry: 757-865-1189
York-Poquoson Social Services Food Pantry: 757-890-3787
Bargain Box Assistance Line: 757-886-1520
Medical Services: Walk-In Health Clinics
Lackey Free Clinic: 757-886-0608
Old Town Medical Center: 757-259-3258
Medical Services: Hospitals
Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital: 757-886-6000
Riverside Regional Medical Center: 757-594-2000
Sentara Williamsburg Community: 757-259-6000
Medical Services: Emergency Care
Mary Immaculate: 757-886-6271
Riverside: 757-594-2050
Medical Services: Mental Health Services
Virginia Cooperative Extension - Family Focus Program (Grafton): 757-898-2945
Virginia Health Department (Peninsula Health District): 757-594-7300
W & M - New Horizons Family Counseling Center: 757-221-2363
Colonial Behavioral Health - Emergency Services: 757-378-5555
Colonial Behavioral Health - Greater Williamsburg Child Assessment Center: 757-253-4047
Colonial Behavioral Health - York-Poquoson Office: 757-898-7926
Medical Services: Low-Cost Medical Insurance Assistance
Medicaid Services: 757-890-3787
Housing/Shelter
Avalon Center of Williamsburg: 757-258-5022
First Call: 757-594-4636
Friends of the Homeless: 757-928-0116
Homeless Intervention Program (HIP); Upper End: 757-259-5340; Lower End: 757-595-1953
Legal Aid Society (Intake & Referral Unit):757-827-5078 or 866-534-5243
Virginia Lawyer Referral Service: 800-552-7977
York-Poquoson Social Services
Financial Assistance: 757-890-3787
Food Stamps: 757-890-3787
Fraud Investigation: 757-890-3961
Fuel Assistance: 757-890-3787
Protective Services: 757-890-3787
Juvenile Court Services: 757-890-3490
United Way Services: 757-246-0066
The York County School Division website contains links to other sites that are not owned or controlled by York County School Division. Be advised that we, the York County School Division, are not responsible or liable for the content, security or information of these sites. These external links are provided for your convenience.