McKinney-Vento Defined

The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children and youths as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. Defined as:

A fixed residence is one that is stationary, permanent, and not subject to change.

A regular residence is one that is used on a normal, standard, and consistent basis.

An adequate residence is one that is sufficient for meeting both the physical and psychological needs typically met in home environments.

This definition also includes:

Children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason
Children and youths who may be living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, emergency or transitional shelters
Children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not 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, or
Abandoned in hospitals or unaccompanied youth- not in the physical custody of a parent or legal guardian and meet the homeless definition
Migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are children who are living in similar circumstances listed above

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