School Help for Students Without Stable Housing in Kutztown
The Kutztown Area School District's McKinney-Vento / Helping Hands program is the district's Student & Family Support Program, serving K-12 students who are experiencing homelessness and other life challenges. Assistance is provided through programs, personnel, and strategies that integrate various services that span the spectrum of human services, with the goal of reducing isolation, maximizing stability and maintaining consistency for children and youth affected by homelessness and other difficult life conditions.
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is a federal law that guarantees all children and youth the right to an equal education regardless of their living situation. Protection extends to those who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. The situations that fit this definition are:
- Staying in the home of other people due to unavailable housing, financial hardship, or similar circumstances.
- Living in motels, hotels, bus or train stations, cars, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, public places, or campgrounds due to unavailable suitable housing options.
- Refugee and migrant youth living in those circumstances.
- Living in an emergency shelter or transitional housing.
- Unaccompanied youth who are not living in the direct care of a legal parent or guardian, and runaway youth.
Students covered by the law receive a free and appropriate public education, with barriers to school enrollment removed and full, basic, and daily participation in school activities. The associated services and rights listed are immediate enrollment, free school lunch, help from school with any necessary enrollment documents, help from school setting up transportation service, help from school with getting basic uniform clothing, help from school with basic school supplies, help from school with any basic clothing needs, and school stability, by remaining at the student's "school of origin."
To find out whether your child is McKinney-Vento eligible, or to request support services, contact the district's Student & Family Support Liaison, Dr. Edward L. Myers, Assistant Superintendent, at 610-683-7361 ext. 5532 or emyers@kasd.org. The district office is at 10 Deisher Lane, Kutztown PA 19530. Each school building in the district also has a McKinney-Vento / Helping Hands Coordinator. The page does not give office hours for the liaison or say how long an eligibility decision takes.
The district also posts a Resource Booklet, which contains outlets for assistance and key informational pieces, and separate documents including the McKinney-Vento notice, the district's McKinney-Vento procedures, School Board Policy 251 on homelessness, and dispute letters in English and Spanish that families can use if they disagree with a district decision.
Along with school services, the page lists outside help. You can call 211 for community resources. Friend, Inc. Community Services, 658D Noble Street, Kutztown, PA 19530, 610-683-7790, makes funding available to assist households that are unable to pay rent or utilities, and provides intensive case management along with possible financial assistance to homeless families. For rent or utility assistance, Friend, Inc. asks for a copy of an ID or license, a copy of the current lease, proof of income, and a utility bill.
If you or your child is in crisis, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is listed as 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255, with 1-888-628-9454 en Español, and the 24/7 Crisis Text Line takes texts of the word "Home" to 741-741.
Source: kasd.org/community/mckinney-vento-act, read September 18, 2026.
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What situations fit this definition? Staying in the home of other people due to unavailable housing, financial hardship, or similar circumstances. Living in motels, hotels, bus / train stations, cars, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, public places, or campgrounds due to unavailable suitable housing options. Refugee and migrant youth living in the above circumstances. Living in an emergency shelter or transitional housing. Unaccompanied (not living in direct care of legal parent or guardian) or runaway youth.
In Kutztown Area School District’s words
KASD works to serve K-12 students who are experiencing homelessness and other life challenges. Assistance is provided through programs, personnel, and strategies that integrate various services that span the spectrum of human services. KASD’s efforts are designed to reduce isolation, maximize stability and maintain consistency for children and youth who are affected by homelessness and other difficult life conditions.
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Kutztown Area School District
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This listing summarizes publicly available information from kasd.org/community/mckinney-vento-act. Last recorded review: September 18, 2026. Contact the provider to confirm eligibility, hours and availability before you go. If something here is wrong, tell us.