Homeless Support and Family Resources

The Homeless Support and Family Resources were designed to provide assistance to homeless students and families in compliance with the McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
 

 Objective

• Provide ongoing training, technical assistance and advocacy school wide to ensure federal statutes are being followed in regards to homeless students at ISM.
• Remove barriers to academic success for McKinney Vento eligible students by providing needed supplies such as backpacks, school supplies, clothing, free meals, etc.
• Educate students and parents on their educational rights.
• Promote parent participation in school related activities. 
• Each student at the beginning of the school year or upon enrollment at ISM must complete a Student Residence Questionnaire. This form is used to determine what students and families benefit eligibility.
   

What is McKinney–Vento?
McKinney–Vento is a federal law that offers rights and protection to families in difficult or transitional living situations.
Common living situations that fall under the law are:

• Double-up: in a house or apartment with more than one family due to loss of housing or financial hardship
• Renting a room in another person’s or family’s apartment or house due to financial difficulties
• Staying in hotels, motels, or weekly rate housing
• Living in cars, a RV , trailer, garage, shed, closet, campsite,  park, or other place not designed for regular sleeping
• Staying in shelters or housing programs 
• Moving from place to place (“couch surfing”) due to lack of stable housing 
• Living in substandard housing (without electricity, water, heat, OR problems with mold or infestation)
   

Available Resources
ISM provides a variety of resources on campus including:

• School supplies
• Backpacks
• Personal care items as well
• School uniforms
• School Meals
• Food for the family
• Bus Passes
• Free After School Care
• Student counseling 
• Personalized family support and referrals for varying community agencies.  

Please see the school liaison for more information regarding any and all available resources. 
 

How do I get the help I need for my child and family?
To access services and benefits you can start by filling out the Student Housing Questionnaire.
Once that information is filled out please contact the Family Liaison directly for immediate assistance. 
 

Family Liaison
ISM has a McKinney-Vento liaison whose role is to ensure both you and your child’s rights are being met, and to offer any help you may need outside of education, including assisting with food, clothing, school supplies, transportation. If you have any questions, need additional support with either school or outside resources, or believe you have been incorrectly identified as McKinney-Vento status, please reach out to your district McKinney-Vento liaison:

Contact:
Lisa Wichael-Loomis
831-583-2165
lwloomis@ismonterey.org
 

Community Resources for the Family

Multi Service Agencies:
United Way - You can call 2-1-1, Bill assistance, Rental assistance, Community resources
Catholic Charities Diocese of Monterey - Food, Tattoo removal, Imigration & Citizenship

Animal Care:
SPCA - Pet food, missing animals, Shots, end of life
Animal Friends Rescue Project - Pet food
Monterey County Animal Shelter - Missing animals

Child Abuse:
Child Abuse Hotline - 831-755-4661 (business hours) or 9-1-1 Ask for the on-call social worker (after business hours) 

Child Care:
County Child Care Resource and Referral Program - Child Care
Head Start - Child Care age 3-5
Early Head Start - Child Care Infant to age 3

Child Support:
Monterey County Child Support Services - Child Support

Clothing:
Good Samaritan Center - Clothing
Society of St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shop -voucher for free clothing and furniture 

Food & Formula:
Emergency Food Assistance - Food
Food Bank of Monterey County -Distribution Schedule - Food
CalFresh (Food Stamps) - Food
Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program (WIC- Pregnant women and children up to 5 years old) - Food and formula
All-In Monterey  - Food, hygiene items, household goods, gently used/new clothing, and shoes

Financial Help:
CalWorks - Cash Aid 

Health care: 
Monterey County Clinic at Marina - Health Care
Seaside Family Health Center - Health Care
Montage Mobile Health Clinic - Health Care
Department of Health Care Services- 24/7 nurse -877-409-9052
Planned Parenthood- MarMonte - Women’s Health Care
America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses - Eye Care
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration - Substance Abuse

Health Insurance:
Covered California - Health Insurance
MC-Choice - Health Insurance
Medi-Cal - Health Insurance 
Central California Alliance for Health - Health Insurance

Housing & Shelter:
Community Homeless Solutions - Shelter
Community Human Services - Shelter, Mental Health, Substance Abuse
Housing Resource Center of Monterey County - Housing resources
Domestic Violence Shelter - Shelter

Legal Help:
American Bar Association - Legal Help

Suicide Prevention:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline  - 800-273-8255 (24/7) 
Suicide Prevention Services of the Central Coast - 877-663-5433 (24/7) 

Transportation:
Monterey Salinas Transit - Bus Transportation

Unemployment: 
Employment Development Department - Unemployment Benefits