ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — The number of students experiencing homelessness across the state of Texas has continued to rise over the last few years.
According to TEA data, during the 2021 to 2022 school year, there were more than 97,000 students experiencing homelessness in public schools in Texas.
If you jump ahead to the 2023 to 2024 school year, the number jumped to more than 121,000 students experiencing homelessness.
The McKinney-Vento Act was enacted to assist vulnerable students. It’s a federal law ensuring homeless children and youth have the same access to education as their housed peers.
“This is the most amazing little portable in the entire district,” said Anne Grieshop, Round Rock ISD’s Families in Transition Coordinator.
Inside the portable, there are many resources for students and families who are experiencing homelessness.
“We monitor attendance, student progress, we have academic specialists who work one-on-one with the kids, and we couple that with basic needs resources,” said Grieshop.
According to RRISD, during the 2024 to 2025 school year, the district had more than 1,060 students who were experiencing homelessness.
A breakdown by grade showed that the most students experiencing homelessness were in elementary school, with 562 students. There were 202 middle school students experiencing homelessness and 296 high school students.
Carmin Spells said she is thankful for the Families in Transition program, which she said has helped her during difficult times.
“We had to go into a place like a shelter,” said Spells.
As a single mother raising two children, she said it hasn’t been easy on her, but she has made it a priority to make sure her children are getting the best education.
“Just supporting in small things like this, I didn’t have to overthink and say, ‘Oh, what are my kids going to wear or what are my kids going to eat?'” Spells said. “Even through this experience, they are going to grow and they are going to come out strong.”
The portable is filled with food, drinks, clothing, school supplies and even a washer and dryer.
“You are not going to learn in school if you are hungry, and you are not going to learn in school if you don’t have tennis shoes on your feet or if they are too small and they are falling off,” said Grieshop.
Mckinney Vento doesn’t just classify living on the street unsheltered as homeless–it can also be people living in shelters, a hotel or motel, or families doubling up with multiple people living in an apartment.
Out of the more than 1,060 students experiencing homelessness in Round Rock ISD, some of them are considered unaccompanied.
“About 120 of those are kids who are unaccompanied, which means not only are they experiencing homelessness, they also don’t have a parent or guardian looking over them.”
Isaac Castro is one of the success stories coming out of the program. He was considered unaccompanied since he moved from Honduras.
“It is a hard process, especially if you don’t know the language, especially if you don’t have a car, especially if you don’t have someone to support you,” said Castro.
He said he was working 40 hours a week, going to school, and trying to learn English, and there were a few times he almost gave up on school.
With support and encouragement from Grieshop, though, he graduated and goes to Austin Community College.
“My plan for my life is to be a lawyer, to be doing something good for other people,” said Castro.
What can be done to help?
While there is support for these families and students, Grieshop said more can be done to help the students succeed.
“Keep funding our programs,” said Grieshop.
She hopes to see more support in the future from state lawmakers.
“These students are undeserved and desperately need our help and support, and we have the ability to do it,” said Rep. James Talarico, who is a former teacher.
The struggles these families and students face are ones he is familiar with.
“I was born to a single mom who fled domestic abuse to protect me,” said Talarico. “When she made the decision to leave, we didn’t have a place to stay. She was working at a hotel here in Austin, and she begged the manager to let us stay in one of the hotel rooms.”
Talarico said some of the state’s surplus could go to these students and the programs that support them.
“These students have strengths that if we can tap into those strengths and give them the support they need, they are going to be more successful than we can imagine,” said Talarico.
Moving forward, he said, awareness about the issues can help in a big way.
“Without journalists doing this work, most of the community won’t know this is an issu,e and then elected officials don’t respond to it,” said Talarico. “So, I appreciate all the work you are doing to shine a light on this.”
Families in Transition is always looking for volunteers and donations. To donate, click here.