After watching The Homestretch documentary (De Mare, Kelly, Taber, 2014), I kept thinking about two themes. The first theme is vulnerability and how the stories of students like Roque and Kasey are vulnerable to everyone around them (De Mare, Kelly, Taber, 2014). For example, Roque is a strong young man with the ambition to change his situation; he said, "I don't need anyone to tell me to take things seriously," which proves that he has had to grow up quickly and be vulnerable to everyone and everything around him (De Mare, Kelly, Taber, 2014). Additionally, teens like Kasey and those who attend the night ministry because they have nowhere else safe to go are highly vulnerable to the environment around them (De Mare, Kelly, Taber, 2014). When people are vulnerable, they are open and feel exposed, which can be scary, especially for young people (De Mare, Kelly, Taber, 2014).
The second theme that comes to mind is the feeling of being alone. Many students that are experiencing poverty and Homelessness face these challenges alone or feel as if they are alone (De Mare, Kelly, Taber, 2014). Students may feel uncomfortable expressing their situations, and experiencing hardships at young ages can be lonely when students think there is no other place to turn (De Mare, Kelly, Taber, 2014). Situations such as for Roque, where he was able to stay and later become family with his teacher and later get accepted into college, is a hopeful ending to a heartbreaking situation (De Mare, Kelly, Taber, 2014).
To better support homeless students in achieving academic success, school leaders need funding resources and strategies to help make changes ( Cai, 2020). When thinking about my experience as a college student and a parent to a child in a preschool setting during the covid pandemic, we relied solely on means we could provide at home. That included food, shelter, staying safe, and even more so, depending on technology to try and complete our school work. Now when learning about the growing rate of homeless youth in America (Cai,2020), I can not help the image the increased challenges they have endured during such a trying time in our country's history.
Learning about the McKinney-Vento program, a program designed to help homeless youths in schools receive a free, appropriate public education, provided hope (Mc-Kinney Vento Homeless Education, 2021). Through the McKinney-Vento Program, students enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents typically required for enrollment, and receive transportation to and from the school of origin if requested and receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to each student's need (Mc-Kinney Vento Homeless Education, 2021).
It is inspiring to read that New York State grants funds to support Homeless Students (New York State Education Department, 2022). That funds are being allocated to school districts to support and help schools foster programs like improved attendance, engagement, and academic success in interim housing (New York State Education Department, 2022). Additionally, it addresses a student's social-emotional, intellectual, physical, and mental health needs (New York State Education Department, 2022).
Reading further, an additional first account essay from a student who benefitted from the McKinney-Vento program tied together all the moving pieces of discussing poverty and Homelessness. The Personal Essay was written by Carlos Lara-Gonzalez and titled I was 17, homeless and alone. Here is how my school helped me back on my feet. Reading his first account, how his school McKinney-Vento liaison went above and beyond to ensure he enrolled in a new school and all the necessities needed to succeed ( Lara-Gonzalez, 2023). Carlos expressed he no longer worried about when he would have his next meal, where he would sleep that night, or how he would wash his clothes ( Lara-Gonzalez, 2023).
Since poverty and Homelessness affect children of all ages, I wanted to find a story that I could share with my young son or with a classroom, and the book I found was A Place to Stay by Erin Gunti. The story highlights that even in difficult situations, we have the ability to create a positive outcome.
Fast Car by Tracy Chapman is a song that resonated after learning more about poverty and homelessness as the song expresses the struggle and determination of challenging situations.
Chapman, T (1998). Fast Car [Youtube] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIOAlaACuv4
De Mare, A., Kelly, K., & Taber, K. (Producers), & De Mare, A., & Kelly, K. (Directors). (2014). The homestretch [Streaming video]. United States: Bullfrog Films.
Gunti, E. (2019). A Place to Stay: A Shelter Story.Barefoot Books
Lara-Gonzalez, C. (2023,February 23) I was 17, homeless, and alone. Here’s how my school helped me back on my feet. Chalkbeat. https://www.chalkbeat.org/2023/2/6/23585224/unaccompanied-homeless-youth-mckinney-vento
New York State Education Department. (2022, August 17). New York State Department of Education Awards $7.1 Million in Federal Grants to Programs Supporting Homeless Students. http://www.nysed.gov/news/2022/new-york-state-education-department-awards-71-million-federal-grants-programs-supporting
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