Both Illinois and federal law define “homeless.” Homeless students include, but are not limited to, children or youth who are:

• sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason (commonly referred to as being “doubled up”);

• are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations;

• are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals;

• are awaiting foster care placement; are staying in public or private places not ordinarily used as sleeping accommodations; are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations or similar settings;

• or are otherwise not residing in a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. There is no specific time limit on how long a child or youth can be considered homeless. Whether a child or youth meets the definition of homeless depends on the living situation and the individual circumstances.

The guidance deans are the Homeless Liaisons at Knoxville CUSD #202:

Brandy Nolan - KHS Guidance Dean - bnolan@bluebullets.org - 309.289.2328

Sydney Ingle - KJHS Guidance Dean - sydneyingle@bluebullets.org - 309.289.2328

ISBE Homeless Information