About McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act for Children and Youth

Definition of Homelessness

The federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act defines homeless children and youth as:

“Children and youth who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence, including children and youth who are residing in the following situations due to a loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason.”

This may include children and youth who are:

• Sharing housing with others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar circumstances
• Living in emergency shelters or transitional housing
• Staying in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or campgrounds because no adequate alternative housing is available
• Living in cars, parks, public spaces, bus or train stations, or abandoned buildings
• Residing in housing that is substandard or not designed for regular sleeping accommodations
• Migratory children and youth living in any of the situations listed above

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