Department
Homeless ServicesHomeless Children and Youth Annual Notice
Overview
HAVE YOU LOST YOUR HOUSING? IS YOUR HOUSING UNSTABLE? DO YOU NEED TO STAY WITH FRIENDS OR FAMILY BECAUSE YOU HAD TO LEAVE YOUR HOME? HAVE THE EFFECTS OF COVID-19 CONTRIBUTED TO YOU LOSING YOUR HOUSING?
DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE IN THIS SITUATION?
WE ARE HERE TO HELP!
The McKinney-Vento Education Assistance Act is federal legislation that, in part, makes sure that students have access to education during homelessness. Homelessness is defined for education purposes by McKinney-Vento as:
Children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, and includes children and youth who are:
- Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason (sometimes referred to as “doubled-up”)
- Living in motels, hotels, or camping grounds due to a lack of an alternative
- Living in emergency shelters (Salvation Army or New Horizons)
- Living in a public or private place that is not meant for sleeping (cars, parks, bus stations, abandoned buildings, etc.)
- Migratory children who live in any of the above circumstances
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If you, or a family you know, are in this situation, please reach out to your student’s school homeless liaison listed below. If you know of a family who has moved to La Crosse because of their housing being disrupted as a result of finances or COViD-19, they should also reach out to enroll in our district as soon as possible. Our staff will work with families to make sure there is access to the internet and technology for continued schooling where needed, as well as connect you with other needed community resources. We need to know where you are to help!
For families who are new to La Crosse and need to enroll, please call: (608)789-7756 to leave a message with information about how to contact you back or enroll online by clicking here.
Resources
Contact Information
District
Alicia Place
Community Services Coordinator & District Homeless Liaison
(608) 789-7941
Emerson
Michelle Torgerson
(608) 789-7990
Hamilton/SOTA
Courtney Arneson
(608) 789-5068
Hintgen
Ryan Schmidt
(608) 789-7767
Northside/Coulee Montessori
Walfsty Pierre
(608) 789-6747
North Woods
Tim Hanson
(608) 789-7000
Southern Bluffs
Becky Lueck
(608) 789-7020
Spence
Katie Jeseritz
(608) 789-7773
State Road
Rachel Hying
(608) 789-7690
Summit
Kelsie Bolstad
(608) 789-7980
Longfellow
Tabatha Veum
(608) 789-6607
Logan Middle
Stacey Oliphant Deal
(608) 789-5872
La Crosse Polytechnic
Susan McParker
(608) 789-5919
Central
Tatiana Wolf
(608) 789-7900
Logan High
Ashley Jourdan
(608) 789-3339
CRVA
Abby Fernan
(608) 786-4848
Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns not addressed on our web page, please feel free to contact us using this form.
McKinney-Vento Act
If, due to a lack of housing, you must live in a shelter, motel, vehicle, or campground, on the street, in abandoned buildings or trailers, or doubled-up with relatives or friends, then according to the McKinney-Vento Act you are considered homeless.
Your children have the right to:
- Go to school, no matter where you live or how long you have lived there.
- Continue in the school in which they began the school year before you became homeless or the school they last attended, if that is the choice and it is feasible.
- Receive transportation to the school they last attended before your family became homeless or the school they last attended, if you or a guardian requests such transportation.
- Attend a school and participate in school programs with children who are not homeless.
- Enroll in school without giving a permanent address.
- Enroll and attend classes while the school arranges for the transfer of school and immunization records or any other documents required for enrollment.
- Enroll and attend classes in the school of your choice while the school and you seek to resolve a dispute over enrolling your child.
- Receive the same special programs and services, if needed, as provided to all other children served in these programs.
- Receive transportation to school and to school programs.
At School, ask about these Special Services:
- Free breakfast and lunch programs
- Free transportation services
- Special transportation for children to remain in their home school
- Special Education programs, especially if the student has previously received Special Education services
- Tutoring programs
- Programs to help children learn English
- Gifted or talented programs
- Summer school programs
- Pre-School programs
- After-School programs