Abstract
Statement of the Problem: Students experiencing homelessness continue to suffer diminished academic outcomes. The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act’s Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program was designed to provide comprehensive support services to homeless students and their families. However, students and their families are often unaware homeless services are available and mandated. The homeless student family population is unique, as it is broadly defined to include families living doubled-up with another household. Within this broadly-defined population, the household structure is disproportionately headed by single mothers. To deliver effective services that support homeless student families, schools must develop a deeper understanding of, and connection to, the homeless single mother household. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the current body of research centered on homeless student households headed by single mothers, through the discipline of education. This study investigates the experiences that homeless single mothers, with preK-12 children, have with their children’s schools during episodes of homelessness. The perspectives of the single mothers are critical to the improvement of school system homelessness support. Sources of Data: The methodology for this research is a qualitative approach, using a multiple case study design. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect deep, expansive data. This research is framed through both the feminist standpoint theory, and the bio-ecological systems theory. The lens of the feminist standpoint theory will help contextualize the homeless experience, from the unique standpoint of single mothers. Conclusions Reached: Results of the research were wide sweeping. Gaps is McKinney-Vento EHCY were evident, including under-identification of homeless students and low program awareness by student families The data found inadequate referrals to comprehensive, wrap-around services; specifically community support organizations. Homeless support received was primarily limited to student-centered services, with little or no family-centered support. Chronic and cumulative adversity was prevalent in the lives of the participants and their children. The developmental impacts from cumulative adversities could not be remedied at school. The needs of the homeless students and their single mothers were very individualized, rendering it difficult to apply broad interventions across the population. Consistent with the work of Richards, Garland, Bumphus, and Thompson (2010) and Timmer, Eitzen, and Talley (1994), economically insecure single mothers received inadequate government aid to achieve self-sufficiency. As a result, participants’ children were disparately impacted by systematic oppressive policies aimed at their mothers.