2025-2026

Displaced Youth Services

Our Commitment:

At Lindsay Unified School District, we believe every learner deserves a safe, supportive, and stable learning environment- regardless of their housing situation. We are committed to ensuring that learners experiencing homelessness have full and equal access to educational opportunities, support services, and a sense of belonging.

Disclaimer:

While the name of this program includes the term "homeless," LUSD aims to avoid using that label when referring to eligible learners. Instead, we encourage the use of the following alternatives:

  • "family/ learner in transition"
  • "displaced family/ learner"
  • "family/ learner in a temporary housing situation"
The McKinney-Vento Assistance Act

The McKinney-Vento Assistance Act defines homeless children and youth as individuals who:

  • Lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence
  • Share housing of other people due to loss of housing, crisis or economic hardship
  • Live in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or campgrounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations
  • Live in emergency, transitional shelters, or domestic violence shelters
  • Live in cars, parks, public spaces, substandard housing, bus or train stations
  • Have a nighttime residence that is public or a private place not designed for ordinarily use as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings
  • Are awaiting foster care placement
  • Are migratory children who qualify as homeless
  • Unaccompanied youth and runaways (defined as a youth not in physical custody of a parent or guardian)
  • Abandoned in hospitals
LUSD’s Homeless Liaison is located at the Lindsay Healthy Start Family Resource Center

Linda Bonilla lbonilla@lindsay.k12.ca.us (559) 239-7734

Additional Supports are available to support your child and your families needs. Supports include:

  • Basic Needs- School supplies, hygiene kits, clothing and food.
  • Case Management
  • Linkages to Dental, Medical, Mental Health and Vision services
  • Parenting Support
  • Resource and Referral to local service agencies for Cal Works, Energy Assistance, Homeless Assistance Programs, Legal Aid, and WIC.
  • Support with completing college financial aid application

To determine if your child is eligible for these services, please complete this affidavit and return it to your school site or to the Healthy Start Family Resource Center.

https://forms.gle/46fQjyK3sDLDTgpL9

Displaced learners have the following rights:
  • Immediate school enrollment and full participation in school activities even without the documents normally required like proof of residency, school records, or immunizations.
  • Receive a free, appropriate public education
  • Enroll in school and attend classes  immediately, even if lacking documents that are normally required for enrollment
  • Enroll in the local school; or continue attending the school of origin (the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled), according to the student’s best interest
  • Receive assistance with transportation to and from the school of origin, if requested.
  • Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other learners, according to each student’s needs i.e. IEP, 504 plans, SPED, etc.
  • Receive free lunches for the duration of the school year
  • Receive equal access to education, participation in school activities, and have school fees waived
  • College readiness support and assistance completing financial aid application
  • High school credit recovery- youth receive partial credit for full or partial coursework satisfactorily completed while attending a prior school to reach graduation timely.