The St. Joseph School District was recently notified that it has received the Homeless Children and Youth Grant. 

Marlena Walley is the Federal Programs Coordinator for the school district. According to Walley, the grant is a highly competitive federal grant and 10 districts were selected to receive the grant this year. Walley said the SJSD was awarded funding for $149,990 per year for the next three years and funds will be used to provide direct services for their homeless students. 

“Clothing, school supplies, hygiene supplies, winter items… tutoring, mentoring, assistance with some of the school fees such as like a cap and gown and for recreational books and educational materials,” Walley said. 

The St. Joseph School District received the highest score of 91 out of 100. Walley said the high score is significant because of the highly competitive application process for the grant. 

“It really showed that we have lots of good things to offer in the St. Joseph School District for our homeless students. We prefer to call our program the Families in Transition program,” Walley said. “I think it has a lot to say of what the goals that we set for how we would use that funding from the homeless grant as well as the cooperation with other departments within our school district as well as community.” 

Walley said the goals they plan to focus on include closing the achievement gap between homeless and non-homeless students and strengthening the emotional, social and mental well-being of their homeless students.

“Our third goal would be to foster collaboration efforts between (the) Families in Transition program, community organizations and outlying school districts,” Walley said. “Students that are homeless often have barriers that can reduce their educational experience so having the grant and providing those types of supports help reduce those barriers so that they can access their education just like a student that’s not homeless.”

The St. Joseph School District serves approximately 500 students each year.