The Nevada Department of Education has announced federal funds to help students experiencing homelessness.
"In Nevada last year there were 17,172 students identified as homeless," says Mike Walker, state coordinator for homeless education.
And, he says, that number has been increasing substantially over the last four to five years. That's where an annual grant from the Department of Education comes in.
Nevada will receive roughly $434,000 over the next three years, which it will distribute through competitive sub-grants to school districts. Those funds can provide assistance through things like remediation and after school programs, and transportation.
"One of the things that these families struggle with is, a lot of times, these families experiencing homelessness are highly mobile. And so a high number will live doubled up or in couch surfing-type situations."
Walker says the funds are designed to keep students in their school of origin and continue their access to uninterrupted education.
Listen to Mike Walker explain why this is such a big problem in rural parts of Nevada:
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