Homelessness & Families in Transition

Home and School Visitor

Brittany Kelley
717-719-0296
Email

Immediate Safety Concerns

If you have an imminent safety concern for yourself or for someone else, please do not hesitate to use one of the resources below:

  •  Safe to Say: 1-844-723-2729; www.safe2saypa.org or use the Safe2Say mobile app

  • Police: 911

  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988.The lifeline is available 24/7 for individuals in crisis as well as providing resources. You can also visit the PA Department of Human Services for more information.

  • Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor. This is a free and confidential service for anyone that is needing to talk to someone, particularly through text. This text line is also available 24/7.

  • National Domestic Violence Hotline: To access this 24/7 hotline, you can call 1(800)799-7233. If you are unable to speak safely, you can also Text START to 88788 or log onto thehotline.org for Live Chat.

  • Lancaster County Crisis Intervention: Crisis Intervention is a 24-hour emergency mental health service provided for persons experiencing anxiety, depression, suicidal or homicidal thoughts. Crisis Intervention staff can assist in assessing what a person needs to alleviate the immediate crisis and then link them to the appropriate services.
    Call     (717) 394-2631.

Homelessness & Families in Transition

The Columbia Borough School District seeks to ensure educational stability and success for homeless students. CBSD will ensure that homeless students have access to the same educational programs and services provided to other district students.

 Definition of Homeless Students

  • Sharing the house of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship.

  • Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or campgrounds to due lack of alternative adequate accommodations

  • Living in emergency, transitional or domestic violence shelters.

  • Living in public or private places not designed for or ordinarily used as regular sleeping accommodations for human beings.

  • Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings.

  • Living as runaway children

  • Abandoned or forced out of homes by parents/guardians or caretakers.

  • Unaccompanied youth, defined as any child not in the physical custody of a parent/guardian

 Student Rights Provided by McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

  • Immediate school enrollment

  • Enroll in the local school where they are living, or remain in their original school.

  • Receive transportation to their original school, if requested.

  • Receive free breakfast and lunch.

Columbia Borough School District will work with students defined as homeless to remove barriers that may prevent them from receiving educational services. Anyone who feels their child may qualify as homeless should contact Brittany Kelley, Homeless Liaison at  717-684-2283,extension 1123 or work cell phone at 717-719-0296.

The primary role of the Home and School Visitor is to help families access school and community resources such as:

  • Basic economic needs

  • Dental and vision referrals

  • CHIP and MA applications

  • Community and agency referrals

Assistance to those who are, or may soon be experiencing homelessness

  • Crisis Intervention

  • Home Visits