Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon’s population of homeless students jumped 14 percent over the last year. Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.

Homeless students are defined as kids who lack a regular and adequate nighttime place to stay.

They live in emergency shelters; motels; cars or in housing that they share with friends or another family.  

Jake Weigler, with the Oregon Department of Education, says it’s no surprise where the 14 percent jump comes from.

Jake Weigler: “We’ve seen a major foreclosure crisis, which is literally putting families out of their homes. And we’ve also had some of the highest in the nation unemployment, which means that people are losing their jobs and losing the means the find housing for their families. And this is the effects we’re starting to see in our education system.”

Districts are required to have a homeless liaison officer in school. They help kids find services in the community and enroll in class. They also give them the necessary supplies to attend school.