The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act provides emergency relief funds under section 2001(b)(1) of the ARP available to grantees of the Education for Homeless Children and Youths program (EHCY, also known as McKinney-Vento) for the purposes of identifying homeless children and youth, providing wraparound services in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and providing assistance needed to enable homeless children and youth to attend school and participate fully in school activities, including in-person instruction, before/after school, summer learning, and enrichment programs.

This disbursement (ARP Homeless I) is designed to provide funding to States immediately as a supplement to their McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) funds, so that States can address urgent needs of homeless children and youth—including academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs—and so States and local educational agencies (LEAs) can increase capacity by hiring staff, dedicating resources, and planning partnerships with community-based organizations, among other strategies. 

Resources:

• For the definition of homelessness under the Education of Homeless Children and Youth program, see https://nche.ed.gov/determining-eligibility/
  
  

• Department’s COVID-19 Handbooks: 

Volume 1: Strategies for Safely Reopening Elementary and Secondary Schools 

 Volume 2: Roadmap to Reopening Safely and Meeting All Students’ Needs

• School House Connection:

https://schoolhouseconnection.org/lost-in-the-masked-shuffle-and-virtual-void/

Grants

The Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will make $1,539,246.00 ARP Homeless I funds available to current EHCY grantees.

Timeline for Funds

ARP Homeless I funds must be obligated by September 30, 2024.

Uses of Funds

ARP Homeless I funds supplement the EHCY program, and all allowable EHCY uses apply to these funds. For more information, LEAs should reference the list of authorized activities in section (d) of the EHCY statute, 42 U.S.C. §11433

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nF5wq4xI40EG_IyeqhJmKe1dgd3Zcp_u06qOBpYA1KQ/edit?usp=sharing

These supplemental activities may include any expenses necessary to facilitate the identification, enrollment, retention, and educational success of homeless children and youth, such as:

• providing wraparound services (which could be provided in collaboration with and/or through contracts with community-based organizations, and could include academic supports, trauma- informed care, social-emotional support, and mental health services);
• purchasing needed supplies (e.g., PPE, eyeglasses, school supplies, personal care items);
• providing transportation to enable children and youth to attend classes and participate fully in school activities;
• purchasing cell phones or other technological devices for unaccompanied youth to enable the youth to attend and fully participate in school activities;
• providing access to reliable, high-speed internet for students through the purchase of internet-connected devices/equipment, mobile hotspots, wireless service plans, or installation of Community Wi-Fi Hotspots (e.g., at homeless shelters), especially in underserved communities;
• paying for short-term, temporary housing (e.g., a few days in a motel) when such emergency housing is the only reasonable option for COVID-safe temporary housing and when necessary to enable the homeless child or youth to attend school and participate fully in school activities (including summer school); and
• providing store cards/prepaid debit cards to purchase materials necessary for students to participate in school activities.

LEAs must ensure that all costs are reasonable and necessary and that these uses of funds align with the purpose of, and other requirements in, the EHCY statute. In addition, when considering funding decisions, the DESE wants to emphasize that section (d)(16) of the EHCY statute allows the use of funds for “other extraordinary or emergency assistance needed to enable homeless children and youths to attend school and participate fully in school activities.” Accordingly, when considering funding decisions, LEAs should analyze the needs of students experiencing homelessness in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and its extraordinary impact.

Application 

Current EHCY grantees may apply for ARP Homeless I funds to supplement current EHCY competitive grant funds and ESSER funds to supplement the EHCY program, and the uses of funds are governed by EHCY allowability. Uses of funds may include, when responding to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, expenses that are reasonable and necessary to facilitate the identification, enrollment, retention, and educational success of homeless children and youth.

The LEA must comply with, all reporting requirements at such time and in such manner and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require, including but not limited to the requirements under EHCY, and including but not limited to numbers of students experiencing homelessness identified and supported through ARP-Homeless I funding, and specific details about supports and services received by students.

LEAs are encouraged to use these funds to focus on identifying students and to connect students experiencing homelessness and their families to summer learning and enrichment programs, and to engage students and their families in preparation for on-site instruction during the school year. LEAs are encouraged to consider granting subawards to community-based organizations to supplement existing EHCY subgrants and allow LEAs to address the needs of students experiencing homelessness

The current 22 EHCY grantees may apply for ARP Homeless I funds by completing the Addendum authorized under American Rescue Plan (ARP) - Homeless I (attachment 1) by October 6, 2021, and uploading to McKinney-Vento Indistar into the (MVAR) district folder labeled ARP Homeless I.  

Grantees will receive a follow-up email with directions for how to upload appropriate documents including budget in the Grants Management System (GMS).

Questions regarding current EHCY grantees and this funding opportunity should be sent to Jessica.Hickman@ade.arkansas.gov or call 501-683-5428.

Webinar

ARP-HCY I Webinar is scheduled for October 4, 2021 2:00 pm via Zoom (Click Here) 

Eligible Districts and Preliminary Eligible Amounts

Funds not requested will be reallocated.  All funds are reimbursement only. The SOF code for ARP-Homeless I is 6768 and the revenue code is 45968. 

Learn more about Homeless Education Services at https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/public-school-accountability/federal-programs/homeless-education-services