Homeless student rolls ‘skyrocket'

Economy boosted number to 488

Friday, June 12, 2009

According to Karen Krunkel, a homeless student coordinator with student services at the school system, a combination of situations such as foreclosures, domestic violence, abandonment and other situations resulted in 488 students being listed as homeless this year.

Last year, 298 homeless children received services from the school system.

Krunkel and Keith Grier, director of student services, presented an update on homeless students to the Charles County Board of Education on Tuesday.

Krunkel said there were likely more homeless students, but due to pride many families likely never spoke up. She said the number of homeless students increases each year but this year it seemed to "skyrocket."

The school system is fortunate to have federal grant money available to fully serve each child, whether they need school supplies, medical help or other services, she told the board.

Krunkel said 42 percent of homeless students are elementary school age, 23 percent are middle school age and 35 percent are high school age.

She said the goal for human services is to provide stability and reassurance for the children who for whatever reason lost their homes.

"Sure it is a law, but it's more than a law, it's the right thing to do," Krunkel said.

Earlier this year, after hearing of the increase in the number of homeless children — defined as people who are forced into a situation due to a hardship — schools Superintendent James E. Richmond was concerned as to how these students would be fed throughout the summer.

Grier said that with several community agencies as partners, departments within the school system can help ensure homeless children receive meals at 11 different sites in the county this summer.

These sites include Charles County Parks and Recreation summer camp locations, the Nanjemoy Community Center and two sites supervised by the LifeStyles of Maryland program.

Grier said the three high school pools will provide free pool passes to homeless students, and lunches through the pool program.

Homeless student can also receive VanGO passes throughout the summer.

Grier said the support for homeless children this summer is a "work in progress," but the important thing is that the children are getting food.

He said preparing to support the increased number of homeless students this summer was a "tremendous effort by all the agencies in the community."

gphillips@somdnews.com