‘Tidal wave’ of homeless students hits schools

[katty]

more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29356160/

‘Tidal wave’ of homeless students hits schools
School districts across U.S. struggling to pay for needs of uprooted kids
Homeless with homework
In Oxnard, Calif., Mary Aguilar is trying to keep her six kids on track in school while living in a garage without heat or running water.
msnbc.com

msnbc.com
updated 4:20 a.m. PT, Mon., March. 2, 2009

Kari Huus
Reporter

OXNARD, Calif. - Nine-year-old Daniel Valdez is absorbed in “The Swiss Family Robinson,” the fictional story of a family shipwrecked on a tropical island. In real life, he and his family also are marooned, but there is little romance in their tale of survival in this seaside town northwest of Los Angeles.

Daniel, his mother and five brothers, ages 1 to 17, live in a garage without heat or running water in a modest, low-lying neighborhood that sits between celebrity-owned mansions in the hills and the Pacific Ocean. Each morning, they arise at 6:30, get dressed and then leave quietly; they return only after dark — a routine born out of the fear that detection could mean the loss of even this humble dwelling.

Daniel and his brothers have been sleeping in the garage for more than a year — members of what school officials and youth advocates say is a rapidly growing legion of homeless youth.

[Myrina]

1. schoolonwheels.org

A nonprofit in my area, with national roots, to provide school supplies, uniforms and tutoring to homeless children at their shelter/school/church.


We have to help these kids!!!

[katty]

2. great-will check this out

[Jkid]

3. Homelessness is another reason children are bullied/peer abused in schools.

For Mary Aguilar, the Oxnard woman living with her kids in the garage — which she rents for $150 a month from a cousin — the assistance her kids might receive at school is not worth the risk that other children will ridicule them if their living arrangement becomes known.

If known, they'll be harassed out, effectively dropping them out of school.

[MissPuddy]

4. More "ordinary" people are becoming homeless

Here in Florida we get a lot of homeless during the winter. More "ordinary" people are being forced to the streets. A few weeks ago I decided to hit the street and start showing their stories.

http://www.youtube.com/user/HOMELESSinTAMPA The site is updated every couple of days..

[sce56]

5. Uh great now is that her real name or did they just let the rest of the town know

Kids can be real jerks! Oxnard is the largest town between San Jose and LA