A home is more than a physical address. It's also a feeling of safety, connection, and belonging.
“At Holyoke Public Schools, we want every student experiencing housing instability to know that they are valued, supported, and part of our school community,” said Stefany Escobar Garcia, manager of the district’s Homeless and Enrollment Services. “Holyoke is your community. You belong here.”
Throughout November, Holyoke Public Schools is sharing information, resources, inspiration—and hope—as part of nationwide efforts to raise awareness of and understanding around the challenges faced by individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
“We all have a part we can play to support prevention of homelessness while also fostering compassion and working towards change,” said Chief of the Student and Family Experience Steven Moguel. “Right now, almost 5 percent of HPS students (233 students) are experiencing homelessness, while many more families are struggling to maintain stable housing. In Holyoke, almost half of all households are burdened by housing costs, while 25 percent are spending more than half their income on housing.”
There are real people behind these numbers, said Superintendent Jackie Glasheen. “That’s a stark reminder that housing instability is a very real and present challenge for many families in our community.”
What does it mean to be homeless?
By federal definition, “homeless” means not having a permanent home. It does not specifically mean living on the streets. People experiencing homelessness may be living in shelters, motels, in vehicles, on porches, or they may be temporarily sharing housing with friends or family members. Some may not have any indoor spaces they can go to regularly at all, and in such cases, people may live primarily—or all of the time—outdoors.
“This is important to remember: You can’t always see homelessness, but nevertheless it is still there,” Superintendent Glasheen said. “We are keenly aware that homelessness is a traumatic experience with long-term consequences for affected individuals and families, and people outside the family may have no idea of their circumstances.”
Experiencing homelessness can happen to virtually anyone. While individual circumstances vary, causes can include loss of income or other economic hardships, domestic violence, rising rental costs, an insufficient amount of affordable housing, health challenges, and/or substance abuse, among many other possible reasons.
HPS provides a variety of services to students experiencing housing instability, including:
School clothing
Shoes
Underwear and socks
School backpacks with supplies
Hygiene products
Winter coats and winter gear
The federal McKinney-Vento Act provides important educational rights and services to children and youth experiencing homelessness, including:
The right to immediately enroll in school, even if certain paperwork or other requirements have not yet been met;
The right to remain in their school of origin;
The right to transportation to and home from school; and
The right to equal access to education programs, services, and supports, including assistance removing barriers to enrollment, attendance, and academic success.
There are also a number of agencies in the community that provide resources and support. More information is available on the HPS website.
