Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness
Project HOPE-Virginia is Virginia’s Program for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, ensuring that students facing housing instability receive the support they need to stay in school. William & Mary administers the program for the Virginia Department of Education under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, Title IX, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (P.L. 114-95).
Learn More About Project HOPE-VA
McKinney-Vento Learning Library: Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness
Visit our new Learning Library to view more resources, including an overview of the educational rights guaranteed under the law for students experiencing homelessness and ways to help connect them with needed supports.
Learning Library
Empowering Voices in Homeless Education and McKinney-Vento: Our Podcast
Tune in to the newest episode to hear stories from those working directly with students experiencing homelessness. Together, we can prioritize educational stability for these students in every community.
Podcast
Who is considered homeless?
Title IX, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act defines homelessness as living in the following places due to a lack of a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence:
Staying with family or friends due to loss of housing or economic hardship
Motel, hotel, or campground due to lack of other options
Shelter or transitional housing
Car, park, or other places not designed for sleeping
Children and youth living in these settings meet criteria for the McKinney-Vento definition of homelessness and have certain educational rights.
McKinney-Vento Liaison Finder
If you know a student who may be experiencing homelessness, contact your local McKinney-Vento liaison. They can assist with school enrollment, transportation, access to free school meals, and other resources to support students and their families.
About Us
Every student deserves a fair shot at success regardless of their housing situation. Project HOPE-Virginia works to ensure students experiencing homelessness have consistent access to education, resources, and support systems that help them thrive. Through collaboration with liaisons, schools, community partners, and advocates statewide, we’re not just helping students enroll—we’re helping them graduate.
Resources for Educational
Stability & Support
Project HOPE-Virginia connects liaisons, families, educators, and community partners to essential resources:
Training & Support for Educators and Community Partners
Supporting students experiencing homelessness begins with awareness. School staff and community partners play a big part in helping students access the resources they need, but they need to know where to start. Project HOPE-Virginia offers easy-to-access training tools and resources to help educators and community partners understand the McKinney-Vento Act, educational rights for students experiencing homelessness, and best practices for supporting these students.
Additional Resources
