Chicago HOPES, founded in 2006, is a volunteer-run tutoring, homework help, and arts enrichment program for CPS students living in homeless shelters.
Unstable housing situations can affect a student's ability to succeed academically. Chicago HOPES intervenes with academic support and caring, committed volunteers.
An uncertain home situation, new school, the trauma of moving -- all can make learning more difficult for the typical student. Through no fault of their own students living in shelters, as unaccompanied youth, or doubled-up with relatives or family friends (doubled-up students also qualify as homeless) face significant barriers to academic development. Even the most talented student will have trouble without a routine spot to do homework, or a home to invite school friends, or in a new classroom in the middle of March.
Each day at the HOPES program in shelters we see students deal with these challenges -- and witness the resilience, smiles, smarts, and energy they possess, like any child does. Numerous studies offer empirical evidence of the effect on homelessness on education.
Did you know?
- The U.S. Department of Education estimated that 28% of homeless students attend as many as three different schools in a given year
- The Department of Education also estimated that only 77% of homeless students attend school regularly.
- The Institute for Children and Poverty studied the New York school system and found that 37% of homeless students missed more than two weeks of school in a year and 12% missed more than a month in a year.
- A study by Kerbow shows school mobility (moving from school to school) correlates with students falling farther and farther behind peers.
- The Institute for Children and Poverty shows that homeless students are more likely than non-homeless students to repeat grades and to be classified as needing special education.
- Research from the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty found that 50% of homeless students drop out of school at some point during their education. More.
- During the 2009-2010 school year, 15,027 CPS students enrolled as homeless. CPS estimates the final 2010-2011 number will be even higher.
- Approximately 2,000 CPS students are living in homeless shelters.
- The federal McKinney-Vento Act (renewed 2008) ensures the educational rights of homeless students, such as the rights to continue attending school of origin, to transportation to school of origin if necessary, to certain fee waivers, and to other resources.
We're filling the gap
These are significant challenges. But with hundreds of volunteers and the financial support of individuals, organizations, and corporations around Chicago, we've made a difference for thousands of students in homeless shelters. We hope you can get involved.
Sign up to volunteer your time.