Skip to content
Illinois

McKinney-Vento Support for Illinois School District Liaisons

We understand that as a McKinney-Vento liaison in Illinois, you likely oversee multiple functions within your district. From Chicagoland to downstate communities and everywhere in between, our mission is to help you become the most effective liaison possible while optimizing your resource management.

Illinois
students sitting

The Challenge in Illinois

Illinois presents a diverse landscape for addressing student homelessness, encompassing major urban centers like Chicago, growing suburban areas, and extensive rural regions. Homelessness is an urgent crisis, with numbers rising across the state due to increasing housing prices.

55,022 students were identified in the 2022-2023 school year; total enrollment was over 1.85 million; Illinois' identification rate for students experiencing homelessness was at 1.5%.1

Housing

A lack of safe, affordable, and stable housing is a pervasive struggle across Illinois, significantly impacting educational access and stability for homeless students.
 
  • Many students experience homelessness by living in doubled-up situations with other families due to economic hardship. In 2022-2023 83% of those identified as homeless students were in doubled-up accommodation.2
  • In urban areas homelessness can be more visible due to concentrated services and shelters. However, these areas also face significant increases in housing insecurity, with students residing in emergency shelters, motels, or transitional housing.
  • Rural communities suffer from a shortage of quality, affordable housing, often leading residents to live in unsafe conditions or be severely cost-burdened. Homelessness here is frequently "hidden" due to a lack of formal shelter systems and the vastness of these areas, complicating identification and outreach.

Transportation

Limited and costly transportation options across Illinois contribute significantly to chronic absenteeism and difficulties in school attendance for homeless students. This is a persistent barrier in urban, suburban, and rural communities alike.
 
  • In urban centers like Chicago, Naperville, and Springfield, challenges can include the expense of public transit, navigating complex transportation networks, and managing long commutes across metropolitan areas 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, often requiring school districts to seek creative solutions.

Did you know?

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

people looking at board

How McKinney-Vento.org Supports Illinois Liaisons

Streamlined Compliance

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

Personalized student care - cropped

 

 

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.

Illinois

Why Illinois 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

Kate Ulmer, Principal Consultant Wellness Department
Phone: (217) 782-5270

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 Illinois' Homeless Students?

Join the Illinois districts using McKinney-Vento.org to improve outcomes for students experiencing homelessness.

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