Housing Assistance
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ensures that students experiencing housing instability or homelessness have the right to immediate school enrollment, transportation, and access to educational services—even without typical residency documents.
Who Qualifies for Assistance?
A student is considered homeless under McKinney-Vento if they lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This includes:
- Living in motels, shelters, or transitional housing.
- Sharing housing due to economic hardship or eviction.
- Staying in cars, parks, public spaces, or abandoned buildings.
- Unaccompanied youth without a legal guardian.
Rights & Services for Eligible Students
- Students experiencing homelessness have the right to:
- Immediate enrollment in school, even without required documents.
- Stay in their school of origin and receive transportation assistance.
- Free school meals, academic support, and extracurricular participation.
- Access to school supplies, counseling, and other critical services.
Local & State Resources
Families and students experiencing housing instability can reach out to these resources for additional support:
- Vermont 2-1-1 – Dial 2-1-1 for statewide housing and emergency resources.
- Vermont Economic Services – (800) 479-6151 | www.dcf.vt.gov
- Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA) – (802) 722-4575 | www.sevca.org
- Parks Place Community Resource Center (Bellows Falls) – (802) 463-9927 | www.parksplacevermont.com
- Groundworks Shelter (Brattleboro) – (802) 257-0066 | www.groundworksvt.org
- Springfield Family Center – (802) 885-3646 | www.springfieldfamilycenter.com
- Interaction Youth Services & Restorative Practices - A Place to Sleep Tonight (Ages 12-23) – (866) 888-4498
Enrollment & Dispute Resolution
If a student or family disagrees with an enrollment decision, they have the right to immediate enrollment while the dispute is resolved.
View WNESU's Enrollment & Dispute Resolution Policy (Link to your PDF or webpage)
Contact for McKinney-Vento Support
If you believe your student qualifies for McKinney-Vento services, please reach to Shelley Wilson, McKinney-Vento Liaison:
- Email: shelley.wilson@wnesu.com
- Phone: 802-460-1492
Make a Referral for Student Support
If you are a staff member and have identified a student who may be experiencing homelessness, please use the referral form below to connect them with the WNESU Homeless Education Liaison.
- Submit a McKinney-Vento Referral (For staff use only)
More Information
For more details, visit: