During the 2023-24 school year in Kalispell, the number of homeless students in the public school system rose from 293 to 365. Assistant Superintendent Sara Cole attributed this increase to the high cost of living post-COVID-19, stating that homes that were once $200,000 are now selling for $500,000 to $600,000, making it difficult for families to afford living in the area.
This trend of increasing homelessness among students is not limited to Kalispell; statewide data from Montana’s Office of Public Instruction shows a significant rise in homeless students over the past fifteen years, with numbers increasing from approximately 1,200 in 2010-11 to over 4,700 in the last year. Both urban and rural districts in Montana have seen upticks in homeless student populations.
In response to the growing issue of student homelessness, the OPI allocated $425,000 in federal funding to 12 districts, including Kalispell, Ronan, Bozeman, Townsend, and Vaughn. This funding, aimed at supporting homeless children and youth, comes from pandemic-era American Rescue Plan Act funds before their September expiration date.
Under the federal McKinney-Vento Act, homelessness is defined as lacking a regular nighttime residence or living in temporary accommodations not designed as regular sleeping spaces. OPI has already distributed over $1.8 million to 42 districts statewide through previous rounds of grants from the American Rescue Plan-Homeless Children and Youth program.
The funding has been used in various ways by districts, such as providing direct financial support to homeless families, purchasing gas cards, and settling school lunch debts. Districts like Glendive, which had not reported homeless students since 2015-16, are using the funds to support additional children and families.
In Kalispell, the latest round of funding has been used for material supports like food, gas cards, and transportation, as well as supplementing pay for school staff. The district is considering using some of the funding to support English language learners, an unmet need in the area.
With the ARP-HCY funding set to expire soon, districts like Glendive and Kalispell are concerned about maintaining the same level of support for homeless students in the future. They may need to rely more heavily on grants and community contributions to continue meeting the demand for services.
Looking ahead to the 2025 Legislature, Cole hopes that districts across the state can work together to advocate for additional aid that reflects the actual needs in schools, acknowledging that grants are time-bound and not sustainable for long-term support.