Information for Parent/Guardians
Coordinated Access
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The number of families experiencing homelessness continues to rise in Ramsey County. If you need help finding housing you can call the Coordinated Access To Housing and Shelter at 211
Who Qualifies As Homeless In Our District?
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Under McKinney/Vento legislation, children and youth experiencing homelessness are individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence and includes:
- Children and youth sharing the housing of other people due to loss of housing (doubled up), economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or campgrounds; are living in emergency or transitional shelters, are abandoned in hospitals or are awaiting foster care placement.
- Children and youth who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
- Children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations or similar settings; and
- Migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are living in circumstances described above.
Rights of Students Experiencing Homelessness
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Under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act, if you and your family live in a homeless situation, your child has the following educational rights:
- To stay in school and attend the school they are currently attending
- Enroll in school without a permanent address, immunizations, or other records.
- Get free school meals without delay
- Get transportation to school when feasible
- Go to school with your peers and participate in extra-curricular programs/athletics.
- Receive other educational services as needed.
If your child or your family is in a homeless situation and needs assistance, please contact your child's teacher, principal or a support staff at your child's school and ask for assistance. You can also call us directly at 651-744-7173.
Dispute Resolution Procedures
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Families and youth in homeless situations may be unaware of their right to dispute placement and enrollment decisions. When disputes are raised, too often, students are kept out of school during the dispute resolution process. This interruption in education can severely damage students’ academic progress. Saint Paul Public School Policy 503.01 requires that disputes regarding the educational placement of a student in a homeless situation will be expeditiously addressed through a dispute resolution process. Parents or guardians and unaccompanied youth must be informed of the process and in the event of the dispute, the student must be immediately enrolled in the school of choice while the dispute is being resolved.
If a family or youth in homeless situations attending school wants to pursue their right to a dispute or if the district disagrees with a parent, guardian or homeless youth regarding an issue related to the rights of a homeless student, the following steps must be taken:
The school district must immediately enroll the students and arrange for transportation and other services as appropriate.
With the involvement of the Title I Homeless Liaison, (Heather Alden, Heather.Alden@spps.org, Office: 651-744-7173 • Cell: 651-231-0404) attempt to discuss the issues to determine if more information is needed to resolve the issue.
If the issue cannot be resolved, a letter will be issued the parent/guardian or youth explaining the district’s position as to the homelessness-related dispute. In this letter, it is important to include referrals the district Ombudsperson (Dana Abrams 651-767-8394), advocates or attorneys.
Either party may send a written request to the Minnesota Department of Education Homeless State Coordinator asking the State Coordinator (Roberto Reyes, 651 582-8302) to review such decision compliance with applicable law. Such request must include any documentation related to the dispute resolution proceeding.
The State Coordinator may request any additional information from either party he or she deems relevant in resolving the issue.
Resources
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Shelter Assistance and Resources
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NEED HELP?
IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF SHELTER:
Ramsey County families in need of shelter can call Coordinated Access to Housing and Shelter (CAHS) at 211for shelter assessment
FOR YOUTH SEEKING SHELTER AND OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES
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Link to Youth Services Network Minnesota to download the app
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Link to Coordinated Entry services in Ramsey County (assistance in finding housing and shelter)
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Call 651-444-5757 24/7 to reserve a bed at a youth shelter
- For more information about resources and what Ramsey County is doing to end homelessness
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College Students
Get help for college students experiencing homelessness at the Homeless Youth and Higher Education or MoneyGeek websites.
Helping Hand: Resources & Support for Low Income College Students: https://www.publicservicedegrees.org/resources/low-income-college-students/
Resources & Scholarships for Students experiencing homelessness: https://www.publicservicedegrees.org/resources/higher-education-resources-for-homeless-students/
Both guides help students learn about assistance programs and resources they can take advantage of to help get college ready, find housing, afford tuition, and more. All of us at STEPS believe everyone should have the chance to go to college and achieve their career dreams regardless of the financial wherewithal, and creating guides like these are how we're helping make that happen.
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Domestic Abuse Shelter
If you need to access a domestic abuse shelter, you should call Day 1 at 1-866-223-1111. You will be routed to the nearest shelter with an opening.
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Educational Assistance
If you need educational assistance for your child, please contact the school social worker or a support staff at your child's school. The phone directory for all schools and programs for Saint Paul Public Schools can be found here: https://www.spps.org/Directory
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Emergency Shelter
If you need family emergency shelter in Ramsey County, you can call 211. They will refer you to Coordinated Access for Housing and Shelter (CAHS). Once you receive a call back from CAHS, you will complete an assessment to determine shelter alternatives. Brochure for CAHS
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Special Education
Upcoming events and meetings will be posted here when available
Questions or concerns, call Jackie Kelly 651-767-4547 or email jackie.kelly@spps.org
Frequently Asked Questions
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What do I do to enroll my children in school?
To enroll your children in school, you will need to go to the Placement Center located at 2102 University Ave. W.
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Who do I contact at my child’s school to help with my living situation?
If you want to speak to someone at school in reference to your living situation, you may ask to speak to the school's social worker or another support staff at your child's school. That person will be able to refer you to resources within the community or may refer you to a school social worker at Project REACH.
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Is transportation available from where I am currently staying?
Project REACH will be able to provide transportation to your children if they are attending their school of origin. The school of origin is the school that your children attended when you became homeless.
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Who should I call if my child misses their bus?
You should call your child's school and let them know what happened. You can ask if there is any way they can help get your child to school. You should also call transportation if your child does get to school so they know he/she will need a ride home on the bus. Phone number is 651-696-9600.
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How can I get help for my preschooler?
In Ramsey County, there is a Central Intake phone number. You can call 651-604-3700 for information. They should be able to direct you to any appropriate resources for your child. You can also call St. Paul Schools regarding their 3 and 4 yr. old programs at 651-632-3700.
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Is summer school available for my children?
YES! Summer school is available for all children experiencing homelessness. Please ask your school for more information.
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How can my child get free meals?
All children who are determined to be homeless are eligible for free meals at their school. You do need to let either the school social worker or the homeless contact person at your child's school know what your living situation is.
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Will someone help me track down past school records?
Yes, in appropriately placing students in the correct grade level as well as connecting to services if they are in need of special education accomodations/services, staff at the Placement Center and the Title I Project REACH Homeless Program will contact past school districts to get academic records, health records and Special Education IEP information.
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Can I keep my living situation private?
Yes, you may keep your living situation private. The Placement Center allows for private addresses to be hidden within a file of a student. Only certain individuals would have access to this information. REACH staff and school personnel also have the ability to code addresses for domestic abuse womens' shelters or addresses that are unpublished so they are not readily available.
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How can I find out about community resources?
- Our program social workers can help you with resources. They can be called directly or you can work through the social worker at your child's school.
- If you have access to the internet or go to a public library, type in "Community Resources" for the area you are living in or any other community. You can also simply dial 211 and ask for assistance. 211 is a resource number used throughout the Twin Cities.
