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McKinney-Vento Program

Offering services and support for children, youth, and their families who experience homelessness.

McKinney-Vento Homeless Program

About Housing Vouchers

The McKinney-Vento Program does not provide housing or hotel vouchers.  Our team can work with families to connect them with community organizations that provide shelter and housing support.

The trauma of homelessness, severe poverty, and high mobility combine to wreak havoc on the academic progress of children and youth in school. According to a report issued by the U.S. Department of Education (2024-2025), more and more students continue to struggle with the burden of finding a stable place to live, and the number of homeless students in America has topped 1 million for the first time as a result of the prolonged economic recession. The largest and most important safety net for homeless children and youth is the public school system, which provides both basic services as well as the education that is necessary to avoid poverty as adults.

According to McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, homeless children and youth means “individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence” and includes:

  • Children and youth who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing or economic hardship, living in emergency or transitional shelters, abandoned in hospitals, or awaiting foster care placement
  • Children and youth who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings
  • Children and youth who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings
  • Migratory children who qualify as homeless due to living circumstances described.

Homelessness among families has increased considerably in recent years and is most often due to unexpected financial setbacks that create a situation where the family can no longer pay for their housing.  Research indicates that the enriching experiences of a high-quality education can be especially beneficial for homeless children because they provide stability and daily routines that may otherwise be scarce in these children's lives.

Mission Statement

The Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) Title I Homeless Project shall provide the means, motivation, and encouragement needed for homeless students to reach their potentials as productive members of society in an educational environment that treats all students with dignity and respect.

What is Title I?

Title I is a federally funded program designed to meet the needs of students primarily in the areas of language arts, math, science, and higher thinking skills. Homeless children are eligible for these services regardless of where they attend school.

McKinney Vento Program Key Contacts

  • Cristal Wilson, Director, (505) 256-8239 x46902
  • Sharon Torres, Lead Resource Teacher, (505) 256-8239 x46904
  • Jami Ramos, Community Coordinator, (505) 256-8239 x46908
  • Joey Wilson, Warehouse Coordinator, (505) 256-8239 x46911
  • Lorna Kindel, Clerk, (505) 256-8239 dial 0

Contact Information

Main Phone: (505) 256-8239
Fax: (505) 232-2129

Mailing Address:
1730 University Blvd. SE Albuquerque, NM 87106

Physical Address:
1730 University Blvd. SE Albuquerque, NM 87106 Map