Board of Education to Vote Tuesday Night on Resolution Reinforcing Commitment to Homeless Youth
San Diego Unified School District’s Board of Education Tuesday night will vote on a resolution to reinforce its commitment to supporting students experiencing homelessness and recognize November as Homeless Youth Awareness month. Roughly 8,000 San Diego Unified Students are facing the challenge of homelessness, which is defined as lacking a fixed, adequate, and permanent residence.
“Using compassion and comprehensive service offerings, we work to ensure every student, no matter their housing situation, has the opportunity to thrive in school and beyond,” said Kristy Drake, Ed.D., Homeless/Foster Youth Liaison, San Diego Unified School District.
San Diego Unified’s work stands as a model for how school systems can play a critical role in breaking cycles of homelessness. The district’s Counseling and Student Support Services, Youth in Transition Department provides critical support for students and families, including access to clothing, shoes, hygiene items, school supplies, and transportation. Staff also connect families to community resources such as shelters, housing case management, and public benefits including EBT and Medi-Cal. Most importantly, the department builds strong, trusting relationships so families feel safe and supported in the education system.
“We believe that every child deserves stability, belonging, and opportunity,” said Superintendent Fabi Bagula, Ph.D., San Diego Unified School District. “Our staff go above and beyond to remove barriers and ensure students experiencing homelessness are not defined by their circumstances—but supported by a community that sees their potential.”
In October, the Board of Education approved an agreement for the San Diego Housing Commission and Jewish Family Service of San Diego to operate a 40 vehicle Safe Parking site at the old Central Elementary site in the City Heights neighborhood. The district will soon partner with an affordable housing developer to build affordable housing on the site.
SD Unified Delivers Comprehensive Services and Outreach
The district’s outreach efforts extend into shelters across the city, where staff visit monthly to ensure children are enrolled in school, have transportation, and receive clean clothes, shoes, and backpacks. These visits also include back-to-school events and family engagement activities. Thanks to these efforts, Father Joe’s Villages recently reported—for the first time ever—that every student in their shelter was enrolled in and attending school.
SDUSD also supports approximately 300 foster youth at any given time, providing transportation for those placed outside the district and maintaining communication between schools, caregivers, and caseworkers. The district’s FASE (Fostering Academic Success in Education) program pairs foster youth in grades 6–12 with academic social workers who meet with them weekly to promote academic progress and personal well-being.
For unaccompanied homeless teens—about 250 students—the district provides access to shelter, transportation, and basic resources. Staff help students secure California IDs, apply for financial aid, and connect with college homeless service programs to ensure a smooth transition to higher education.
“Our mission is to meet every student where they are,” said Drake. “We not only provide essentials like clothing and transportation, we help students navigate college applications, access financial aid, and take that next step toward independence. Every success story is proof that with the right support, our students can achieve incredible things.”
Going Above the Call of Duty for Youth Experiencing Homelessness
In addition to the work being done by the district’s Counseling and Student Support Services, Youth in Transition Department, many district employees in partnership with local donors, girl scout troops, and community organizations, out of the goodness of their hearts also pitch in to support students in need of some extra support.
Each winter, the district’s Adopt-A-Family program sponsors 200–300 families, with staff and partners providing gift cards for food, necessities, and holiday gifts. The district staff and partners also sponsors about 50 graduating seniors each year to ensure every student can participate in senior activities, including prom, graduation, and yearbook.
To learn more, review Board of Education Policy and AR 6173.
Read the resolution being introduced by Student Trustee Ashley Ordaz and Trustee Sabrina Bazzo on Tuesday, November 18 by clicking here.