Homeless Assistance

The Homeless Liaison for the Olympia School District is Assistant Superintendent Andy Walsh.  If you need to get a hold of him to discuss any questions you may have as it relates to a student that is homeless or may be considered as homeless, you can reach him by phone at 309-379-6011 extension 1114.  You may also reach him via email at andrew.walsh@olympia.org.

The Olympia School District is committed to meeting the needs of any students that may be experiencing lack of fixed housing and will provide all of the required resources for students as outlined in the McKinney-Vento Act.  The McKinney-Act defines homeless as follows:

The term "homeless children and youths"

a. means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, and

b. includes-

-children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; or are abandoned in hospitals

-children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place note designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings  

-children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and

-migratory children who qualify as homeless for the purpose of this subtitle because the children are living in circumstances described in the three previous clauses

To the left, you will find links to a number of documents that may be useful for your family if you meet any of the criteria listed above.