Resource Hopping: Examining the Policy Barriers Faced and Strategies Used to Establish Partnerships for Students Experiencing Homelessness

Abstract

Effective support for students experiencing homelessness requires collaboration and coordination within and between agencies. However, this can be difficult for communities with limited resources and majority Black and Latino populations. This article explores the challenges faced by a divested urban school district in establishing meaningful community partnerships for supporting homeless students. Using an anti-deficit achievement framework and structural racism lens, interviews with district personnel, city and county government, and community-based organizations illustrate how homeless liaisons overcame structural and political barriers by seeking informal support networks outside their city and partnering with organizations beyond their immediate jurisdiction to better serve students experiencing homelessness. Building upon recent discourse on how to best support students experiencing homelessness, this article offers a much needed examination of the role of homeless liasons in implementing MVA.