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West Virginia

McKinney-Vento Support for West Virginia School District Liaisons

We understand that as a McKinney-Vento liaison in West Virginia, you likely handle multiple duties within your district. Serving students across mountainous terrain and tight-knit communities, our mission is to help you become the most effective liaison possible while optimizing your workflow.

West Virginia
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The Challenge in West Virginia

West Virginia presents a unique and often challenging landscape for addressing student homelessness, characterized by its mountainous terrain, predominantly rural nature, and varying population centers.

13,547 students were identified in the 2022-2023 school year; total enrollment was over 250k; West Virginia's identification rate for students experiencing homelessness was at 5.4%.1

Housing

A lack of safe, affordable, and stable housing is a struggle across West Virginia, significantly impacting educational access and stability for homeless students. Economic instability and high unemployment rates often present significant barriers to securing or maintaining stable housing.
 
  • In urban areas, while services are concentrated, homelessness is often more visible. Students may reside in emergency shelters, motels, or transitional housing.
  • Rural communities face "hidden" homelessness due to limited formal services and shelters. Families rely on informal networks or may live in substandard/unsheltered conditions, easily overwhelming scarce local resources.
  • Many students experience homelessness by living in doubled-up situations with others due to economic hardship or loss of housing. In the 2022-2023 school year, it was 86.3% of those identified.2

Transportation

Limited and costly transportation options across West Virginia contribute significantly to chronic absenteeism and difficulties in school attendance for homeless students.
 
  • In urban centers like Charleston, Huntington, and Morgantown, challenges can include the expense of public transit, long commutes across districts to maintain school stability, and navigating transportation networks.
  • In rural areas, primary obstacles are the severe lack of public transportation and vast distances between residences and schools. Districts often use creative solutions like gas vouchers or rerouting buses to overcome limited school bus routes and difficult terrain.

Did you know?

The national average of children and youth identified as experiencing homelessness is 3% of students enrolled in public education.3 West Virginia identified 5.4% during the 2022-2023 school year, well  above the national average.

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West Virginia McKinney-Vento Resources

check-mark West Virginia Department of Education - Students Experiencing Homelessness

check-mark West Virginia Continuum of Care

check-mark  WV Housing Assistance Grants

check-mark Emergency Solutions Grant Program

check-mark WV 211 - dial 2-1-1 or search for services

How McKinney-Vento.org Supports West Virginia Liaisons

Streamlined Compliance

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

West Virginia

Why West Virginia 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

Kristin Walter, State Coordinator for Homeless Education
Phone: (304) 558-7805

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 West Virginia's Homeless Students?

Join the West Virginia 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
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