Homeless youth to benefit from new Placer County Office of Education grant funds

Thanks to a grant from the Placer Community Foundation, homeless youth and families in transition will have access to increased services from the Placer County Office of Education this summer. PCOE officials estimate there are more than 1,500 children and youth in Placer County who lack adequate nighttime residences, placing them at increased risk for poor social, emotional and physical wellness. The grant to PCOE totals $10,000 and was spurred by a donation from CORE Construction's new corporate donor-advised fund at the Placer Community Foundation. Along with matching funds by another donor at the community foundation, the charitable dollars will provide essential supplies and other basic needs for homeless youth such as backpacks, clothing, hygiene kits, hair cut vouchers and grocery gift cards. Alicia Rozum, PCOE coordinator for the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Program, said the backpacks and vouchers will be distributed to students during two drive-thru events in Auburn and Roseville in late July and early August. The event also aims to connect families to an array of services. "I think folks that are experiencing bouts of homelessness or evictions, they may be too embarrassed or ashamed to ask for help or look into what is available to them," Rozum said. "Our county has a lot of amazing resources, and we hope this backpack giveaway event is a window to a wide array of really robust and skilled service providers in the community who work really hard to get families housed and connected to sustainable employment." Rozum said the PCOE has hosted a backpack giveaway for the past few years, offering clothes and haircuts in addition to backpacks stuffed with school supplies. This year, Rozum said they are trying to stuff the backpack with school supplies and gift certificates to mimic what the previous in-person events offered. She said PCOE is seeking donations of gift certificates for salons, groceries and transportation to include in the backpacks. Financial hardship due to the pandemic has increased the prevalence of homeless children and youth who live in motels, trailer parks, shelters or in cars, parks, public spaces or substandard housing. The PCOE's Prevention Supports & Services Department provides support and resources to the school districts in the county and county-wide charter schools. PCOE's staff have worked over the past year to meet the demand and deliver services in new, creative and safe ways. "Having this generous support from CORE Construction and the community foundation is going to increase the reach and support we provide to at-risk youth," Rozum said. "Meeting basic needs has an exponential effect on a student's wellness, resilience and lifelong educational outcomes." Rozum admitted there is a stigma around families in transition and facing homelessness and hoped those in need would attend the back-to-school events. "If you have experienced financial and mental health stress as a result of this pandemic you are perfectly normal," she said. "Reaching out for help is a sign of strength."