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MPUSD Offers Expansive Programs and Services for Students Experiencing Homelessness

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 17, 2024


Contact: 

Marci McFadden, Chief of Communications & Engagement

831-706-6971

 

MPUSD Offers Expansive Programs and Services for Students Experiencing Homelessness

Unique programs such as the Rental Assistance Program, Safe Parking Program and Motel 6 Short-Term Housing Program serve to meet the needs of growing population of students and their families experiencing homelessness

 

Monterey, CA – The Monterey Peninsula Unified School District has been hailed regionally, statewide and nationally for its efforts to support its students and their families experiencing homelessness.

 

“Students should not have to worry about where they will lay their head down at night, but for many of our students unstable housing is a reality. As a district we know that students learn best when they do not have barriers to their educational experience. Our programs may not be long-term, permanent solutions but they serve to give a leg up to families,” said PK Diffenbaugh, Superintendent, Monterey Peninsula Unified School District

 

Of MPUSD’s total population of 9,932, nearly a fourth (22.4%) of MPUSD students and their families are experiencing homelessness. The breakout by learning community represents:

 

  • 24.2% in Marina
  • 17.4% in Monterey
  • 58.4% in Seaside

 

While many perceive homelessness as those without shelter, only 1.3% of MPUSD students are unsheltered, and the remaining are in some type of unstable housing, including:

 

  • 3.3% of students in shelters
  • 6.6% of students  in a hotel/motel
  • 88.8% of students double or tripled up in a residence

 

In recent years, the district has received statewide and national attention for its unique programs to serve students and their families experiencing homelessness. The district received a two-year grant in 2022 to bolster efforts to support its students facing unstable housing conditions. This grant has led to the development of a toolkit, including a website (mpusdbests.org) that serves as a model statewide for other districts to replicate.

 

Realizing the urgent need to support students, the district has also bolstered its staffing to enhance the identification of students in need, and has been able to successfully refer them to its programs. The district has already seen the benefits of two programs that are underway - the Motel 6 emergency and short-term housing program and the safe parking program. A newer service, a rental assistance program, just launched this month, and the district and its partners hope to see benefits in the near future.

 

Assistant Superintendent of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Donnie Everett who has been instrumental in the development of these programs and services will also receive region wide recognition as administrator of the year for student support services in May from the Association of California School Administrators Region 10 (Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties) for his leadership.

 

Motel 6 Emergency and Short-Term Housing Program

MPUSD partners with Motel 6 at two locations in Marina, located at 100 Reservation Road, and in Monterey, located at 2124 N. Fremont Street, to provide short-term emergency housing for MPUSD students experiencing homelessness. This unique partnership program is fully funded through the American Rescue Plan II grant provided by the California Department of Education, and was the first of its kind in the state. Many students and their families experience short-term housing due to eviction, the high cost of living on the Central Coast, loss of a job, fleeing domestic violence, loss of a family member, impact at local shelters, immigration status, or loss of a home due to fire. Students are usually referred by a teacher, staff member or school site administrator.

 

In order to qualify, students must:

  • Be an MPUSD student (family)
  • Be eligible for McKinney-Vento services
  • Live or reside with the family when requesting services
  • Student/Family will work with MPUSD community liaison or social worker during the process
  • Not have any other alternative housing option

 

To date, 71 families have been served through the Motel 6 partnership and 228 nights have been provided at cost of approximately $20,329.

 

Safe Parking Program

MPUSD partners with nonprofit One Starfish Safe Parking and Supportive Services to provide a safe parking program for families experiencing homelessness. Additionally, the city of Seaside permits the program. The grant-funded program allows up to 23 families to park and sleep in their vehicles on district property, and is located  in the lower parking lot at Monterey Adult School located at 1295 La Salle Avenue in Seaside. 

 

This program location is close in proximity to MPUSD’s Family Resource Center, and families can access much-needed clothing, food, and other necessities. The program is available only to enrolled MPUSD students and their families. Participants enroll through One Starfish prior to parking at the site between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. The site has bathroom facilities and hand washing stations, trash cans, and privacy screens between cars. Grant funding also provides financial assistance to participating families, such as food vouchers, gas vouchers, vehicle repairs, school supplies, and rental deposit assistance.

 

Rental Assistance 

Housing costs on the Monterey Peninsula have continued to increase and many MPUSD families are feeling a negative impact. The district partnered with the National Center for Youth Law to support unhoused families with students. Throughout their work together, it has become clear that one reason that families remain unhoused is the inability to pay the first month’s rent and the security deposit needed. Additionally, there are families who are currently housed but, due to unforeseen circumstances, arrive at a point of receiving a pre-eviction notice and don’t have the money necessary to avoid being evicted. Both of these situations fall under the realm of a housing emergency. 

 

This partnership also includes the Community Emergency Response Volunteers of the Monterey Peninsula (CERV), who has a history of serving families experiencing emergency situations on the peninsula, and the Payette River Foundation who has demonstrated a commitment to meeting the needs of unhoused families in these types of situations. This program began this month (March 2023) and is currently still in operation with the primary goal of getting unhoused families who have students in MPUSD into stable housing. This is currently a pilot program with a priority to explore the sustainability of it long term.

 

Program benefits include down payment assistance provided directly to the landlord (includes security deposit and first/last month rent) and the coordination of support services for students at schools. To date, this program has been able to support 17 MPUSD families to get into permanent housing, all of which are still currently housed.

 

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About Monterey Peninsula Unified School District

 

The Monterey Peninsula Unified School District is home to approximately 9,600 students in grades transitional kindergarten through 12th grade. The district also houses preschool and adult education. The district is built on a solid foundation of effective instruction, positive school culture, systems of support, and collaborative leadership. The district is nestled along the Monterey Bay, and stretches from the city of Marina to the north to the city of Monterey to the south, and encompasses the communities of Del Rey Oaks, Marina, Monterey, Sand City and Seaside.