Our Role in Fighting Homelessness

My View

In many ways, the San Ysidro, Calif., of today serves as a snapshot of what our country will one day resemble.

People of Hispanic origin make up the fastest-growing ethnic group in our country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, meaning the students whom we are educating now will grow up to be the future of our nation. Sadly, the extent of child homelessness in San Ysidro, whose school system I serve as superintendent, has reached epidemic proportions. Most of these children are Hispanic.

Nearly every day, once the final school bell rings, approximately 30 percent of those we educate — about 1,500 of the 5,000 students enrolled in K-8 — leave our schools with a great level of stress, fear and vulnerability, uncertain where their “home” might be that night.

These students are grappling with extreme poverty and homelessness. They live in public shelters, neighbors’ garages, motor vehicles and abandoned trailers. Some pitch tents with family members under freeway overpasses. Even more tragic is that our homeless children have been the most neglected individuals in our community. For most of their lives, our homeless children have been invisible — until now.

Deliberate Actions

During the last couple of years, the culture of our school district, home to what is considered the Western hemisphere’s busiest land border crossing, where Interstate 5 crosses into Tijuana, Mexico, has shifted significantly. Our new leadership team of administrators and school board members has chosen to take immediate action to find appropriate solutions to support the most disenfranchised students. We cannot simply hope that the symptoms of poverty will improve on their own and expect our children to perform at high academic levels.

Last Nov. 19, by unanimous vote, San Ysidro’s board of education demanded action. The board adopted a resolution asking the state to declare a local state of emergency (which the state eventually turned down). We want recognition that pairing public anti-poverty strategies with schools could both improve student outcomes and the delivery of public benefits to those who are homeless.

In a deliberate act, we have developed short- and long-term strategic plans to ensure that not just some but all of our students have access to adequate shelter. In the 11 months since taking a stand, our district has collaborated with community agencies such as South Bay Community Services, the League of United Latin American Citizens and other local stakeholders to address the housing needs of low-income families. We have arranged for San Ysidro families with school-age children to receive temporary housing vouchers and we are working with community agencies to find permanent housing solutions.

Earlier this year, I was appointed to the San Diego Regional Continuum of Care Council, a group focused on ending homelessness in the region. The council is helping to locate resources for the families of San Ysidro.

We are determined to re-shape the way support is provided. Last winter, our school district organized a blanket drive for families in need. With the assistance of San Diego City Councilmember Todd Gloria, the schools made important connections with a consortium of agencies geared toward serving homeless youth, raising public awareness and gathering food and clothing donations.

Federal Impetus

What we are already doing in San Ysidro is something all school districts must act on under the new Every Student Succeeds Act. Among the changes required under ESSA, district report cards must now include data on homeless student performance and high school graduation rates. But more significantly are the new responsibilities given to school districts to identify homeless children at an earlier age and to articulate to their families or guardians the services they qualify for, including Head Start and early intervention for toddlers with learning disabilities.

Under ESSA, we are required to seek out other service agencies and to collaborate on strategies for serving homeless students. Federal law asks school districts to keep students in their schools of origin and to provide transportation to stabilize a student’s schooling, even if they become permanently housed.

In many respects, San Ysidro is transforming itself as a full-service community school to meet the needs of all students. We are determined to keep moving forward. We know our work has just begun.