School Supplies for Homeless Youth

Hi. If you or someone you know have school age children and can’t afford to buy school supplies this year, there are a number of free back to school events and programs where kids can get free school supplies. You should also know that homeless students have rights to a free, appropriate public education. The back to school events are:

Tomorrow Aug. 21 from noon to 4pm the Atlantic Street Center - Rainier Beach Family Center is coordinating a resource fair where students receive backpacks with school supplies at 8825 Rainier Ave. S. in Seattle. Backpacks are first come-first served.

Thursday August 26th 3 - 6 pm the 2100 Building in partnership with Casey Family Programs and Children’s Administration invite you to start the school year at the Back to School Fair at 2100 24th Ave S in Seattle. This fair is for students in middle school, high school, getting their GED, or going to college up to age 25. Caregivers also welcome. There will be college representatives on site, workshops for youth and caregivers, free school supplies, free haircuts, a BBQ, Games and Prizes.

Also on Thursday the 26th, from 10:30am-2:30pm Lutheran Community Services Northwest - Angle Lake Family Resource Center is coordinating a back-to-school backpack giveaway for students in the Highline School District on at 4040 S. 188th St in SeaTac. Event includes food, games and prizes.

Saturday Aug. 28, from 1-4 the Center for Human Services is passing out school supplies at a one-day event that includes informational resources, school clothes and haircuts for Shoreline School District students, at North City Elementary School at 816 NE 190th Street. You need to register by today to attend this fair by calling 206-393-4916 or online at www.btsconsortium.org/

If you cannot get to one of these back to school fairs but need school supplies for your child, ask the family support worker or social worker at your child’s school for free school supplies, as most schools in King County get free school supplies for their students through a number of nonprofit school supply drives.

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act protects the educational rights of homeless students, which includes children living in shelters, transitional housing, motels, vehicles, on the street, doubled up with friends or family, unaccompanied youth, and youth awaiting foster care placement. A homeless child has the right to remain enrolled in and be transported to their school of origin or be promptly enrolled in their neighborhood school, be provided help with school supplies, receive free breakfast and lunch in schools that serve both, be provided full access to classes, not have to pay any school fees, and receive the same educational supports as all students. Each school district is required to have a homeless education liaison to help children and families access support and services. To find your school district's liaison, call 360-725-6050 or here is the complete list of homeless education liasons in Washington

For more info the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act read this flyer on homeless students' rights prepared by Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness (SKCCH) and/or visit the SKCCH website.