What to do if you are experiencing homelessness or housing instability?
1. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
- Right to enroll without documentation
- Right to choose which school you want/can to attend
- Right to participate in all extracurricular activities
- Right to post-secondary education
- Youth are protected under the McKinney-Vento Act
Here are a few of the rights that should be provided by schools.
https://action-lab.org/youth-homelessness/files/2019/11/MV-Liaison.pdf
2. TELL A TRUSTED ADULT
- Guidance Counselor
- Social Worker
- Teacher
- Coach
- Administrator
3. LET A TRUSTED ADULT KNOW ABOUT YOUR LOCAL MCKINNEY-VENTO LIAISONS
- Connecticut Coordinator: Lewis Tallarita Email: Louis.Tallarita@ct.gov Phone: (860) 807-2058
- Hartford Coordinator: Leslie Carillo Email: carrl003@hartfordschools.org Phone: 860-695-8504
4. KNOW AVAILABLE RESOURCES IN HARTFORD, CT
- Shelters
- Food Pantries
– Find a food pantry near you here
- LGBTQ+ Centers: Below are links to resources for LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness, housing instability or problems at home.
– Connecticut Alliance To End Sexual Violence
- Dial 211 to get connected to local services.
- YMCA offers a variety of youth and family services.
- YWCA offers educational and empowering support to youth.
- Domestic Violence Centers: Below are links for youth experiencing domestic violence.
–National Domestic Violence Hotline
- YETI: a resource for school personnel that want to get involved.
–Youth Engagement Team Initiatives
- Our community partner:
– Connecticut Coalition To End Homelessness
- McKinney-Vento Act This link explains the duties of a McKinney-Vento liaison and can help further understand your rights.
- Hartford Public Schools Welcome Center A safe space for students and families to get the help they need.
Here is a printable resource bookmark
https://action-lab.org/youth-homelessness/files/2019/12/LAAL-inforgraphic-3.pdf
Here is a printable resource card
https://action-lab.org/youth-homelessness/files/2019/11/Untitled-presentation.pdf