Children who meet the legal definition of students experiencing homelessness, according to the McKinney-Vento Act, are those who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This includes children and youth who:
- Are sharing housing with others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason (often called "doubled-up").
- Are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or campgrounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations.
- Are living in emergency or transitional shelters.
- Are living in public or private places not ordinarily used as regular sleeping accommodations, such as cars, parks, abandoned buildings, or train stations.
- Are living in substandard housing situations.
- Are living on the streets or unsheltered.
- Are "unaccompanied youth," meaning they are homeless and living on their own without the physical custody of a parent or guardian.
These children qualify for special rights under federal law, including the right to immediate school enrollment and to remain in their school of origin if they choose, regardless of typical enrollment documentation requirements.
