5,000+ students homeless across region

When Sabrina West lost her job and apartment last spring, her oldest son moved in with cousins while she and her two younger sons moved into a $475-per-week motel. But it's been anything but a vacation from the stresses of school.

"My middle son has started to slack off in his new school. He's not into his homework or classwork, and his grades have dropped tremendously," West said. "My 6-year-old is starting to act out - he wasn't that way before."

West's children are three of more than 5,000 homeless students in Washington-area classrooms, defined by law as living in a shelter, motel or other temporary residence due to hardship. And their numbers are rapidly growing as the economy continues to crumble.

In Fairfax County alone, 1,112 students have been identified as homeless this year, up from 907 at the same time last year. About 1,600 students are homeless in Prince George's County, up from 1,500 last year.

"We're seeing more families suddenly evicted, or renters who didn't know the landlord was being foreclosed upon," said Kathi Sheffel, Fairfax County schools' homeless liaison.

"The kids are stressed about where they're going to sleep or eat dinner, or about trying to cover it up," Sheffel said. "They're not getting enough sleep, they don't have the materials other kids have in class, they don't have winter coats - we're looking for coat donations right now."

Under a provision of the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act, districts are required to employ someone like Sheffel whose job is to ensure homeless students transfer schools as little as possible and are provided with services such as free meals and counseling.

West's youngest son, for example, meets with a school counselor every other day.

Fairfax is one of about 6 percent of school districts nationwide that receives federal grants to deal with its homeless population. The $98,000 received this year pays for Sheffel and one assistant, but district funds cover extra transportation costs and 21 tutors specifically for homeless kids.

The D.C.-based National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth has found the spike occurring nationwide. About 60 percent of homeless students across the country are doubled up with friends or extended family, the association found, largely because shelters are full.

In Fairfax, nearly 100 families are on waiting lists for four family shelters in the county.

West found a job in October and is hoping to be out of the motel by Christmas, she said. She found temporary assistance and counseling through a Fairfax social service organization called Facets.

And she's made a point of keeping her sons involved in kid-focused activities. As she rounded them up for the 9-year-old's championship football game Saturday, she remained hopeful.

"I do talk to them a lot and let them know it won't be like this for long," she said. "And it has made me and my boys a little closer - I hope that stays with us."

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