According to the McKinney-Vento Act, a homeless student is defined as one who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

More specifically, this means the following:

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• Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason (doubled-up)

• Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to lack of adequate alternative accommodations

• Living in emergency or transitional shelters

• Abandoned in hospitals

• Awaiting foster care placement

• Living in a public or private place not designed for humans to live

• Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, etc.

• Migratory children living in above circumstances

• Unaccompanied youth who are experiencing the above circumstances