To inspire philanthropy and be a catalyst for strengthening communities throughout Monterey County
Housing for School Kids is dedicated to seeing that every public-school student in Monterey County has a place to call home. According to the Monterey County Office of Education (MCOE), 12,959 public school students were homeless in the 2023-2024 school year, nearly 17.6% of the total population. Last year, we granted the MCOE Homeless Children and Youth Services program funds to be used for rental assistance for families of homeless students attending Monterey County schools. These funds help unhoused families cover upfront deposits and fees required to rent a home and provide one-time emergency assistance for families threatened with eviction because of a short-term financial need. Our goal is to raise $150,000 to continue this program.
The availability of affordable housing is critical to this effort. We plan to raise funds from private sources and individuals to help increase the housing supply for our target population.
As a result of our collaboration with the Monterey County Office of Education (MCOE), our rental assistance program is available to qualified homeless student families in every public school throughout Monterey County. All public schools have liaisons working with homeless students. These liaisons provide MCOE with data and other relevant information to help support these disadvantaged students so that they can succeed in school and grow to become thriving, productive adults. This established network guarantees that our program has a reliable pipeline to identify and qualify families who are likely to succeed in staying housed. They fall into two categories: those already unhoused who need help paying upfront costs to get back into housing and those facing eviction who will benefit from rental assistance. By avoiding homelessness, the affected students are more likely to succeed in school, in life, and contribute to their communities.
I am at a loss for words. This rental assistance came when I found myself not sleeping at night and preparing for the worst. I was behind on rent and facing the real fear of becoming homeless. This assistance didn’t just help me keep a roof over my head—it gave me and my children peace of mind. After receiving the assistance, it allowed me to focus on rebuilding stability in my life without the constant stress of losing my home. My child will not have to fear being bullied at school for being homeless. I’m truly grateful for preventing another family from becoming homeless and overall, for the opportunity it will continue to give my children to focus on their education. Thank you for being such caring individuals in this time of uncertainty. I will forever be grateful for the support you have provided my family.
- J S, Monterey County
