What does it mean to be McKinney Vento qualified?

The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children as "individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence."

The act provides examples of children who would fall under this definition: Any child or youth that is: 

• Sharing housing due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason,
• Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camp grounds due to lack of alternative accommodations,
• Living in emergency or transitional shelters,
• Abandoned in hospitals,
• Whose primary nighttime residence is not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation (e.g. park benches, etc),
• Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, and 
• Migratory and living in any of the above situations.

McKinney Vento students are eligible for a variety of additional services, including:

• Automatic qualification for free school lunch
• Immediate enrollment
• School supplies
• Educational service & community resource navigation
• Access to the CSD clothing & outdoor living supply closet

How to I become Qualified?

Families/students are welcome to speak with their school’s counselor who will put them in touch with the Student Support Liaison. Additionally families are welcome to fill out the Housing Questionnaire below to be contacted directly.

What Housing Resources are in Island County?

The Housing Resource Center - The Housing Support Specialist has access to information regarding all the low-income housing on the Island and can assist with applications, shelter sign up, etc.
The Opportunity Council - The opportunity Council provides a wide variety of resources including a variety of housing options and tangible resources (gas vouchers, assistance with DSHS applications, etc.)
The Housing Authority - The Housing Authority manages a number if low cost apartments on the Island. Fill out their application to get on the Section 8 waitlist
Ryan’s House for Youth - Ryan’s House provides emergency and transitional housing for youth ages 18-25, as well as drop in services and supplies to youth ages 13-18.
Whidbey Homeless Coalition - The Haven (Oak Harbor) & House of Hope (Langley) - both facilities are shelters, the Haven being night to night for adults only and the House of Hope providing 90 day stays to families.
Oasis Teen Shelter - As there are no youth shelters on the Island at this time, the Oasis Teen Shelter is the closet shelter housing option for students 13-17 years of age.

For more information regarding the rights of McKinney Vento Students please see the OSPI website. 

For more options off Island, please contact Arianna Bumgarner