American Rescue Plan - Homeless Children and Youth

American Rescue Plan - Homeless Children and Youth Grant Program

The U.S. Department of Education under section 2001(b)(1) of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 is providing additional funding to help support school districts in serving students experiencing homelessness. The purposes of this funding include increasing the identification of homeless children and youth, providing wraparound services considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and providing assistance needed to enable homeless children and youth to attend school and participate fully in school activities.

American Rescue Plan - Homeless Children and Youth Subgrantees

• Funded Districts 
• Authorized Activities
• ARP-HCY Drawdown Timeline and Commitment-DUE 4/19/24
  • Smartsheet Link

American Rescue Plan - Homeless Children and Youth: Outreach and Emergency Assistance Grantees - Updated January 2024

• Program Summaries

Funding in Colorado

ARP-HCY funding awarded through the U.S. Department of Education, allowed Colorado to award 41 grants to Colorado school districts, Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), and community-based organizations in support of:

1. Identifying homeless children and youth
2. Providing wraparound services in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
3. Providing assistance needed to enable homeless children and youth to attend school and participate fully in school activities.

A total of $7.2 Million was distributed across seven Colorado educational regions making funding available to 96 districts across the state. Funding has been approved to support reasonable and necessary expenses associated with the identification, enrollment, retention and educational success of homeless children and youth including but not limited to the examples listed below. 

• Hiring system navigators to support outreach and navigation of services for children, youth and families experiencing homelessness.
• Contracting with community-based organizations to conduct outreach, identification and enrollment of homeless children and youth as well as wraparound services to support unaccompanied homeless youth with social emotional supports, and historically underserved populations.
• Training for staff on trauma informed approaches. 

• Defraying costs of transportation with contracted car services, gas vouchers and public transportation passes.
• Purchasing cell phones and laptops for students to be able to fully engage in their schoolwork and stay connected to supportive and caring adults as well as needed services. 
• Paying for short-term, temporary housing when necessary to enable the homeless child or youth to attend school and participate fully in school activities primarily with hotel/motel vouchers.
• Supporting engagement in summer programming to keep homeless children and youth engaged in programming through the summer and school breaks including access to needed resources, academic and enrichment opportunities, and prosocial activities.  

Resources 

• American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP)

• Funding Spotlights 

  • SchoolHouse Connection compiled examples of how ARP-HCY funding is being used to support and serve homeless children and youth across the country.