2008 Grant Proposal Details

Homeless Children Materials   District 4J

Total: $2000

Description:  Tom, a homeless middle school student, currently residing at Motel 6 in Glenwood, is embarrassed and doesn’t want to go to school. His teacher has asked him to bring a graphic calculator, and his parents who are trying to pay the nightly fees at the hotel, cannot purchase one. Homeless children and youth face many logistical barriers, including lack of school supplies, which often prevents them from being able to focus and learn at school. The result is that these children fall desperately behind academically, become isolated from peers and friends, and suffer from depression, anxiety and behavioral problems. This project will provide the essential learning materials so that these children can come to school better prepared to learn. The students need binders, notebooks, graphic calculators, paper, pens—all the supplies that separates them from their more affluent peers. As the students move from shelter to shelter, or to motels or cars, they often find it difficult to contain their supplies, if they have any. A generous donation of 400 backpacks from the National Feed the Children agency means that these children will now have a place to store their school supplies, and with money from EEF, will be able to carry the supplies necessary to complete assignments.

Why is this important?  The two homeless liaisons provided assistance to 415 homeless students in 2007-08, --174 students in K-5th grade, 223 students in 6th-12 grade. These students had the following living situations: 94 stayed at shelters, 194 lived with other families, 109 students had no shelter environment where they reside in cars, parks, camping, or substandard dwellings, and 18 stayed in motels. Services provided included referrals for medical, dental and mental health programs, before and after school mentoring, coordination between schools and agencies, finding school supplies and proper clothing, arranging transportation. As federal funding for both the McKinney Program and Title I has diminished, the budget for materials and supplies has been drastically reduced. This means that requests for school supplies and calculators for math and science classes, cannot be honored. The homeless students are caught in the digital divide-they do not have access to the supplies and equipment that will make them successful learners.

Who will be served?  The homeless middle and high school students desperately need calculators, binders and notebooks to keep their papers together and be able to do math and science assignments. Currently 9 homeless middle school students need calculators. The proposed project will enable 20 students to have graphic calculators, 50 students to have binders, and 30 students to have notebooks.

How will this be evaluated?  The students will attend school daily now that they have backpacks and supplies.

Does this build on existing programs?  The McKinney Vento homeless liaisons Maxine Proskurowski at 8 hours weekly and Kasey White at 40 hours weekly attempt to eliminate as many barriers as possible so that homeless children can come to school prepared to learn. This means resolving transportation, enrollment, academic, basic physical and mental health and nutrition issues, finding school supplies, clothing and shoes. Funds earmarked for school supplies, will allow the liaisons to resolve other important issues that prevent these students from learning effectively. The liaisons are very active in the community, and receive donations from the Kiwanis club, churches, individuals, the Assistance League, all of which help to meet these students basic needs for clothing,food and medications. This project will assure that students will have school supplies. The Irish Proverb, “It is in the shelter of each other that the people live” illustrates that together, the homeless liaisons, community and nationwide supporters, and EEF, can protect and nurture Eugene’s most vulnerable population, the homeless children.

Budget:  20 graphic calculators at $50/each = $1,000 50 binders at $15/each = $750 Notebooks and paper for 30 students = $250

Proposal #:  120