Homeless Student Liaisons:
WE STAND WITH YOU!
With more than 30,000 K-12 public school students experiencing homelessness in Washington State, it is more important than ever that students and families receive the support they need to thrive in our schools and communities. Yet, homeless student liaison positions are at risk of being eliminated or severely reduced due to budget cuts happening across the state. As an organization leading a statewide effort to improve academic and housing outcomes students experiencing homelessness, we are very alarmed by this news.
Homeless student liaisons serve as a critical line of defense in the fight against student homelessness in communities across our state. They play an indispensable role in ensuring that students experiencing homelessness are identified and that students and their families get connected to services.
Building Changes advocates for effective strategies, programs, and staffing to meet the unique needs of students and families experiencing homelessness. This legislative session, we led the work to secure an additional $4.6 million in funding for the Homeless Student Stability Program (HSSP) to address the dire crisis of student homelessness in our state.
We strongly urge schools and school districts to ensure that homeless student liaison positions are fully funded in current and future budgets. We call on our partners and communities statewide to advocate for sustained investment in the programs and PEOPLE serving our students and families. We cannot fully address student homelessness without fully supporting homeless student liaisons.
Please download our statement and FAQ about homeless student liaisons and share widely!
