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Florida

McKinney-Vento Support for Florida School District Liaisons

We understand that as a McKinney-Vento liaison, you likely juggle multiple responsibilities within your Florida district. Our mission is to help you become the most effective liaison possible while making your complex job more manageable.

Florida (1)
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The Challenge in Florida

Florida presents a dynamic and often challenging landscape for addressing student homelessness, encompassing major urban centers, sprawling suburban areas, and extensive coastal regions. The state has long grappled with an affordable housing crisis, with rising costs and increasing competition.

93,316 students were identified in the 2022-2023 school year; total enrollment was over 2.87 million; Florida's identification rate for students experiencing homelessness was at 3.3%.1

Housing

A lack of safe, affordable, and stable housing is a pervasive struggle across Florida, significantly impacting educational access and stability for homeless students. The state faces an ongoing affordable housing crisis.
 
  • Most students experiencing homeless in Florida (73.9% in 2022-2023) were living in doubled-up situations with family and friends due to economic hardship or loss of housing.2
  • In urban areas high competition for homes from investors and vacationers drives up housing costs significantly. Homelessness here is often more visible, with students residing in emergency shelters, motels, or transitional housing.
  • Rural communities across Florida also face a shortage of affordable rental homes, particularly for extremely low-income households. Many families in these areas are severely cost-burdened, spending more than half their income on housing, making them vulnerable to instability.
  • Coastal communities are especially impacted by tourism and second-home demand, which inflates property values and creates intense competition for housing. Regular hurricanes also pose significant threats, bringing risks of severe damage, high insurance premiums, and complicating long-term housing stability.

Transportation

Limited and costly transportation options across Florida contribute significantly to chronic absenteeism and difficulties in school attendance for homeless students.
 
  • In urban centers like Miami, Orlando, and Tampa, challenges can include the expense of public transit, navigating complex transportation networks, and managing long commutes to maintain school stability, particularly for students whose temporary housing is far from their school of origin.
  • In rural areas, the primary obstacles are the lack of public transportation options and vast distances between temporary residences and schools. Reliance on limited school bus routes or the absence of city systems compounds barriers to consistent school attendance, affecting access to education and other essential services.

Did you know?

The national average of children and youth identified as experiencing homelessness is 3% of students enrolled in public education.3  Florida identified 3.3% during the 2022-2023 school year.

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How McKinney-Vento.org Supports Florida Liaisons

Streamlined Compliance

We help you meet federal regulations with up-to-date checklists, policy templates, and annual audit preparation tailored for Florida schools.

Enhanced Identification: Your "Army of Awareness"

Custom training materials and awareness campaigns adapted for rural and urban districts help staff recognize housing insecurity early.

Comprehensive Training

Live webinars and on-demand modules-covering trauma-informed practices, transportation logistics, and rural outreach-available year round.

Data Management and Funding Support

Tools to track students, manage eligibility, and access local/federal funding (e.g., Title I, II) help boost resource allocation.

Expert Guidance and Advocacy Support

Subject Matter Experts with many years of McKinney-Vento implementation are ready to provide support on challenging cases, work through situations and help you connect with resources to support your work.
Testimonial

Success with McKinney-Vento.org

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Featured

“ As I changed school districts this last year, I have become more aware of the homelessness in the school systems. I have moved to a district with many newcomers and most have come with out parents or guardians. This information is very helpful. I am going to pay more attention to situations and help when needed. ”

Cynthia J.

Florida

Why Florida Districts Choose McKinney-Vento.org

check-mark McKinney-Vento Expertise

McKinney-Vento.org delivers specialized training and compliance tools for identifying and supporting students experiencing homelessness under federal education law.

 

check-mark Proven Results Since 2014

Our track record speaks for itself – from small rural districts to large urban systems, we've consistently delivered measurable improvements in homeless student support and educational stability.

 

check-mark The Only Turnkey Solution Available

Stop piecing together incomplete solutions. We provide the industry's only comprehensive, turnkey McKinney-Vento implementation system designed specifically for today's educational environment.

State Coordinator Contact

Bryce Trafford, Director Title IX, Part A: Florida McKinney-Vento Program
Phone: (850) 245-9920

Citations

1,2,3 Child and Youth Homelessness Data Profiles powered by University of Michigan Poverty Solutions and SHC
  https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/schoolhouseconnection/viz/ChildandYouthHomelessnessDataProfiles/National 

Ready to Better Support Florida's Homeless Students?

Join the growing number of districts in Florida already using McKinney-Vento.org to improve outcomes for students experiencing homelessness.

Or sign up for our Free Liaison Portal to access essential resources.

We'll help you find the funding and build internal support to make this program successful in your district.

Book your personalized demo
Liaison Portal