An appropriate education is considered the most effective intervention tactic available for children who are homeless. Explain why and give an example of how school could be an impactful intervention for an 8-year-old child who is homeless at your school.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

For children who are homeless, attending school is considered the most impactful intervention tactic that can be used. Student responses may vary, but it is important to include the fact that schools are spaces where homeless students can have their own personal space, find safety and support, and make friends. Schools can also provide homeless children with services like bathing facilities, clean clothes, and nutritious meals. For homeless children, school may be the most "normal" activity of their lives. For example, a child who is homeless may come to school after not bathing for several days and need a good meal. The school may be able to provide resources to this child such as an extra snack in the afternoon, extra portions at lunch time, breakfast when the child arrives to school, and a space for the child to bathe or wash off. Furthermore, the school likely has extra clothes on hand so the child can get out of his or her dirty clothes for them to be washed at school.