Finding HOPE How OKCPS serves students without stable housing BY REBECCA FAST
R egular school attendance is essential to a child’s academic success. However, for children whose families face unstable housing situations, making it to school every day can be extremely difficult. Oklahoma City Public Schools data shows that 60 percent of students experiencing homelessness or housing instability were chronically absent during the 2024- 2025 school year. According to an America’s Health Rankings report in 2022, three percent of public school students in Oklahoma lacked sufficient housing, placing the state among the highest percentages of housing instability among U.S. students. In addition, the Homeless Alliance reports that the number of people experiencing homelessness in Oklahoma City has grown by nearly 20 percent over the past five years. To address these challenges and help these students succeed, Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS) provides the Homeless Outreach in Public Education (HOPE) program, offering a variety of resources to meet students’ needs and give them the best chance of success. Rex Wall, executive director of federal programs for OKCPS, oversees the HOPE program and shares how it supports one of Oklahoma City’s most vulnerable populations. “Each year we serve about 1,400 students within our district who are experiencing homelessness or inconsistent housing,” says Wall. “These students may be facing a variety of barriers to being able to attend school, so we want to do everything we can to ensure they have a consistent educational experience.” How the program works The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, signed into law in 1987, is a federal law that ensures children and youth experiencing homelessness receive important education rights and services. Under these guidelines, states require families to complete a questionnaire about their housing situation when enrolling a child in school. Using this data, the HOPE program reaches out to families and offers assistance. “Once a family is identified, we complete a needs assessment with the family,” explains Wall. “We have two coordinators, one assigned to secondary schools and the other to elementary schools. They contact
the families and learn what’s needed. It can be as simple as needing a new coat, shoes or school supplies, or more involved, where we help solve transportation needs or refer them to community resources that can assist with finding secure housing.” Wall says many families live ‘doubled up,’ a term meaning they share housing with another family, while others may be completely unsheltered — living in a tent, car, or in one of the few metro-area family shelters. Community partnerships and support The HOPE program works closely with community partners to help families through the process of obtaining stable housing, including the Homeless Alliance, Sisu Youth Services, City Care, City Rescue Mission, the Salvation Army, and Pivot, an organization providing counseling, educational and vocational services for youth. In some instances, the circumstances that lead to family homelessness can subject children to traumatic and stressful experiences. While the HOPE program tries to meet the physical needs of a child, Pivot can help with mental and emotional needs. The hardships of being unhoused is an experience Wall knows personally. “When I was young there was a period in my life, maybe three or four years, when I experienced homelessness, even living out of a car for a while,” shares Wall, who grew up in Oklahoma. “I was moved around
36 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / MARCH-APRIL 2026
Made with FlippingBook Annual report maker