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Now Hiring for Job Positions throughout Central Ohio
The ESC is now hiring for educator positions, including intervention specialists, teaching assistants, and more in schools throughout the Central Ohio region - some of which now include a $1500 hiring incentive. For more information regarding incentive eligibility, please see here.

Students Experiencing Homelessness | Supports

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The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) Homeless II Funds provides federal resources to support local districts and schools with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic of students experiencing homelessness. ARP Homeless funds are in addition to the larger pool of ARP funding and must be used to meet the needs of students experiencing homelessness. The ARP Homeless funds are divided into two disbursements: ARP Homeless I and ARP Homeless II. ARP Homeless II funds will be distributed to Ohio’s districts and schools by formula. 

Districts and schools allocated less than $5,000 in Phase II funding as stipulated by the formula are not eligible for the subgrant on their own. To receive an ARP Homeless II subgrant, the district/school must join a consortium in which the sum of its members' allocations meets the $5,000 threshold. The ESC, in partnership with the North Central Ohio ESC, has developed a consortium in which these districts/schools may participate.

COHHIO Course to Home Information

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW) has partnered with the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO) creating a new program called the COHHIO Course to Home.  The purpose of the COHHIO Course to Home is to provide a community of practice (offering sessions quarterly) and other professional development supports, to increase resources and responses to vulnerable students experiencing homelessness.  ODEW has teamed up with the COHHIO to provide on-demand technical assistance to school districts.  If your district has technical assistance (TA) needs regarding student homelessness resources, please email [email protected] requesting TA at any time.  

Allowable Wraparound Supports & Services

Districts and schools may allocate these funds in the following areas:
  • Engaged and Challenged
    • Supplemental transportation to enable attendance in school and school-sponsored activities;
    • Cell phones or other devises to enable attendance and full participation;
    • Reliable, high-speed internet for students while family is homeless and needs internet to participate in instruction beyond what is provided to all students and families;
    • Tutoring, supplemental instruction and enriched educational services;
    • Expedited evaluations;
    • Assistance to defray the excess cost of transportation;
    • Developmentally appropriate early childhood education programs; and/or
    • Before-and after-school, mentoring and summer programs.
  • Support Services
    • Wraparound (community-based organizations, academic, trauma-informed care, social-emotional support and mental health services);
    • Professional development designed to heighten the understanding of the needs of homeless children and youth and their rights;
    • Services to attract, engage and retain students experiencing homelessness;
    • Education and training for families about their rights and available resources; and/or
    • Coordination between schools and agencies providing services.
  • Safe and Healthy
    • Needed supplied related to COVID-19;
    • Short-term, temporary housing during emergencies or to enable full participation in school activities;
    • Referral services for medical, dental, mental and other health services;
    • Specialized instructional support service (including violence prevention counseling) and referrals for such services;
    • Activities to address particular needs that may arise from domestic violence, parental mental health or substance abuse problems;
    • The adaptation of space and purchase of supplies for any non-school facilities; and/or
    • Other extraordinary or emergency assistance needed for attendance and full participation.

SchoolHouse Connection ARP-HCY District Highlights

SchoolHouse Connection shares ways that states and districts are using American Rescue Plan-Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) funds. Districts highlighted are categorized by support areas including:
  • Academic Support
  • Capacity Building & Staffing
  • Housing-Related Supports
  • Outreach & Identification
  • Prepaid Debit & Store Cards
  • Transportation
  • Wrap-Around Services

Contact Us

For information and resources to support students experiencing homelessness, please contact [email protected].

For more information regarding this consortium, please contact [email protected].

Student Services | The ESC offers direct student services within schools or in standalone educational programming providing:  
  • Mental health and social-emotional support
  • Alternative education support
  • Special education classrooms support
  • Related services
  • Elementary tutors for students in reading and math
  • Attendance support and more. 

Educator Services | The ESC offers educator services to professionally develop administrative and teaching staff in important areas such as:
  • Leadership
  • Special education
  • English learners
  • Gifted
  • Digital teaching and learning
  • Social-emotional learning
  • Mental health and wellness and more. 

Business Services | The ESC offers business services to help streamline:
  • Back office processes
  • Human resources
  • Payroll
  • Background check services
  • Communications
  • Printing services and more. 

For more information on any ESC service or to be directed to someone for assistance, please contact us at [email protected].