Monday, January 21, 2013

The number of homeless students in the Topeka school district has gone up in the last decade, while federal funding to meet their needs is at a 10-year low.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the district had about 580 homeless students last year, compared with about 340 homeless students 10 years ago.

This year's federal grant to help homeless students is $50,000, down from $61,000 a year earlier.

Rosanne Haberman, who coordinates homeless matters for the district, says the tight funding means fewer resources, including hygiene kits and city bus passes for high school students who can't afford them.

She says the district has also had to reduce to part-time two positions for teachers who work at the Topeka Rescue Mission helping students before and after school.