It is the policy of the Howard-Winneshiek CSD to ensure homeless children and youth are provided with the following: equal access to our educational programs, an opportunity to meet the same challenging academic standards of the State of Iowa and Howard-Winneshiek CSD and safeguards that to protect them from discrimination or segregation on the basis of their homelessness.
Questions about rights and responsibilities in regards to homeless children can be addressed to Brenda Lentz, Howard-Winneshiek CSD Homeless Liason, at (563)547-2762.
Definition of Homeless Child or Youth
Chapter 33 of Iowa Administrative Code defines “Homeless child or youth” as a child or youth from the age of 3 years through 21 years who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and includes the following:
- A child or youth who is sharing a housing of other person due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; is living in a motel, hotel, trailer park, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; is living in an emergency or transitional shelter; is abandoned in a hospital; or is awaiting foster care placement;
- A child or youth who has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human begins;
- A child or youth who is living in a car, park, public space, abandoned building, substandard housing, bus or train station, or similar setting; or
- A migratory child or youth who qualifies as homeless because the child or youth is living in circumstances described in paragraphs “1” through “3” above.