The task of providing an education to homeless students is becoming increasingly challenging. Each year, more than 1.35 million children in the United States face homelessness, with over 29,000 of them experiencing this situation in Indiana alone. Homeless individuals, who lack a permanent residence, display a high degree of mobility, moving as frequently as 12 times compared to their permanently housed counterparts. Moreover, a significant portion of homeless parents, up to 63%, is affected by domestic violence.

The constant instability that homeless children endure as they shuffle between the homes of family or friends and shelters creates significant obstacles for them to find a suitable place to complete homework or attend school regularly. Additionally, the enrollment of these students can be hindered due to the absence of essential records such as immunization or birth certificates, school transcripts, or a stable residential address. The resulting delays and absences put these children at a disadvantage, causing them to quickly fall behind in their education.

In response to reports indicating that as many as 50% of homeless children were not attending school, Congress established the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. The McKinney-Vento Act was formulated with the objective of ensuring that homeless children and youth are enrolled, attend, and succeed in school. It allocates funding to states to help eliminate the barriers to education.