Student living alone by choice
I’ve had a couple of situations this school year of 18 year old students who have decided to move out and live on their own. Are they considered UHY? The housing questions are throwing me off because they don’t fall under any of the following choices:
Staying in a shelter
Sharing the housing of others…doubled-up
Living in a car, park campground, etc…
Temporarily living in a hotel…
Does it come down to WHY they chose to move out? Or what their current housing situation is like? Please help!
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Hi Heather! I’m Sherry (sbreckenridge@wynneschools.org) and I totally agree with Rachel’s answer. It is also good to meet the student in person and have the conversation as to why they left as in by choice or asked to leave. That can clarify a lot of questions. Also, it can help if you know if the student still has a relationship with his/her parents and talks to them or not. This can mean that although the parents may be aware that the student has moved out and are not fighting the situation, the student may also be able to return home at any time he/she chooses or the parents may still be offering support if the student has needs. I recently had a case like this. My parents did not want the child to leave, but did refuse to let him/her be rude and disrespectful in the home. The student said I hate you and I’m leaving. The parents let him/her leave, but they knew right where the student wound up staying with family friends. The situation was okay with both families and the student continued to talk to the parents and they were in the background with support if needed, but gave the student room to choose and to see what life was like on his/her own. After talking with all parties, I made the determination that the student was not McKinney Vento Unaccompanied and still had a support system. The parents thanked me for my help and the student regained a better but different relationship with the parents going by to have meals regularly and everyone hopes the student will be back home soon. Obviously a couch surfer staying with friends can be McKinney Vento or MV Unaccompanied, but on the other hand once you get all the facts you may decide they are not. That is why it is case by case determination.