Skip To Main Content

Logo Image

Logo Title

Homeless

Who Is Homeless?

As defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, the term homeless children and youth is defined as an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence including children and youth who:

  • are sharing housing due to loss of permanent housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason
  • are living in motels, hotels, substandard trailer parks, or camping grounds due to a lack of alternative and adequate housing
  • are living in an emergency or transitional shelter
  • 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
  • are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings
  • are migratory children meeting the descriptions listed above
  • are ‘doubling up’ with relatives or friends
  • are unaccompanied youth (21 years old or younger and are not in physical custody of a parent or guardian)

Rights of Homeless Students

If found to be eligible for services under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, families with school-aged children have the right to:

  • attend school
  • enroll immediately, even if missing records and documents normally required for enrollment
  • stay in the school they attended before becoming homeless (school of origin), if the parent/guardian so chooses
  • receive transportation services to and from the school of origin
  • participate fully in school programs, activities, and receive school services according to the students’ needs
  • receive free meals

All public schools that receive federal funding must provide certain services to homeless students. Any child that is identified as homeless must be allowed to enroll in school immediately at the school nearest to where he/she is staying, or at the child’s school of origin, whichever is in the best interest of the child. If a child is enrolled in a school other than the one preferred by the parent/guardian, the school district must provide a written explanation as to why it was selected. Transportation will be provided to the child if he/she is to remain in the school of origin.The school district must assist homeless children in obtaining or transferring immunization records, birth certificates, school transcripts, or other necessary paperwork. This may be done by the required homeless liaison, who will also assist homeless families and unaccompanied youth in obtaining services.

The school district must assist homeless children in obtaining or transferring immunization records, birth certificates, school transcripts, or other necessary paperwork. This may be done by the required homeless liaison, who will also assist homeless families and unaccompanied youth in obtaining services.Homeless students must be allowed to attend

Homeless students must be allowed to attend school event, field trips, and extracurricular activities.

Meet Our Social Workers

Early Childhood Center
Maria Jones
mjones@west-fargo.k12.nd.us 
(701) 499-3069

Aurora Elementary
Nancy Greenley
ngreenley@west-fargo.k12.nd.us
(701) 499-3425

Brooks Harbor Elementary
Laura Davison
ldavison@west-fargo.k12.nd.us
(701) 499-1309

Deer Creek Elementary
Alicia King
aking@west-fargo.k12.nd.us
(701) 499-9520

Eastwood Elementary
Michelle Niemiste
mniemiste@west-fargo.k12.nd.us
(701) 499-1208

Freedom Elementary
Nancy Greenley
ngreenley@west-fargo.k12.nd.us
(701) 499-3425

Harwood Elementary
Shelby Moser
srmoser@west-fargo.k12.nd.us
(701) 499-3565

Horace Elementary
Amy Sample
asample@west-fargo.k12.nd.us
(701) 551-4718

Independence Elementary
Shelby Moser
srmoser@west-fargo.k12.nd.us
​​​​​​​(701) 499-3565

LE Berger Elementary
Bethany McRaith
bmcraith@west-fargo.k12.nd.us
(701) 499-1536

Legacy Elementary
Alicia King
aking@west-fargo.k12.nd.us
(701) 499-9520

Meadowlark Elementary
Alicia King
aking@west-fargo.k12.nd.us 
(701) 499-9520

Osgood Elementary 
Margit Pavek
mpavek@west-fargo.k12.nd.us
(701) 499-1146

South Elementary
Margit Pavek
mpavek@west-fargo.k12.nd.us
​​​​​​​(701) 499-1146

Westside Elementary
Laura Davison
ldavison@west-fargo.k12.nd.us
​​​​​​​(701) 499-1309

Willow Park Elementary
Ashley Bonderson
abonderson@west-fargo.k12.nd.us
(701) 499-9859

Cheney Middle School 
Bridget Hins
bhins@west-fargo.k12.nd.us
(701) 499-1729
*District Homeless Liaison

Heritage Middle School
Heather Alberty-Schaffer
halberty-schaffer@west-fargo.k12.nd.us
(701) 499-5007

Liberty Middle School
Sara Renfrew
srenfrew@west-fargo.k12.nd.us
(701) 499-9017

Community High School 
Maria Jones
mjones@west-fargo.k12.nd.us
(701) 499-3069

Horace High School
Amy Sample
asample@west-fargo.k12.nd.us
​​​​​​​(701) 551-4718

Sheyenne High School
Emelia Lundberg
elundberg@west-fargo.k12.nd.us 
(701) 499-3213

West Fargo High School
Stacey King
sking@west-fargo.k12.nd.us
​​​​​​​(701) 499-1868