Nampa schools try to help out homeless students

BOISE -- The down economy and job losses are taking a toll on Idaho's children.

One in 30 students in Nampa is now considered homeless, and the school district is doing their best to help out.

When school let out at Central Elementary School Monday, 26 students had no permanent home to go to.

School officials say 497 students in the district are considered homeless.

Nampa schools already experience a high level of poverty as 50 to 60 percent of students in the district qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.

The school system already has a full-time social worker on staff to connect students and their families to programs available.

They've added a part-time social worker, paid for by federal stimulus dollars, to help work with homeless students.

District spokeswoman Allison Westfall says in addition to the social workers, the school system provides students with transportation to activities, access to after-school programs and access to counselors.

But more importantly, schools provide stability for the students who need it.

"So it's a little instable.  School does provide them an important stability in their life.  They come to school at the same place every day, they have their teachers, they can have a meal, time to do their homework at school," said Westfall.

Westfall says the students considered homeless aren't necessarily living on the streets; most are living with relatives or friends, and some in temporary places like motels or shelters.

But we found one family shelter in Nampa that's not only at capacity; there are 30 families on a waiting list to get in.

We checked the number of homeless students in Boise. The district's homeless liaison says they had 728 homeless students last year, and they expect to have the same amount this year.