Grant to help homeless students

Here’s a look at what’s happening in other parts of North Georgia:

SUMMERVILLE — This year, the Chattooga County School District has 67 students identified as homeless. On an average, there are about 200 students in the county who are considered homeless once they are identified.

“We have 200 children on average every year who qualify,” Chattooga County School District social worker Michelle Floyd told The Summerville News.

The Chattooga School Board received a $44,048 grant from the Georgia Board of Education’s Education for Homeless Children and Youth Grant Award last month.

She said that to qualify a student must be living in a temporary resident such as cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations or similar settings such as awaiting foster care placement.

She said the money that the system received goes to buy school supplies, free breakfast and lunch programs at school, field trip fees, locker fees or sports or club fees.

“The idea is that the homeless student is not left out of anything they would have been included in,” Floyd said.

The money the system receives is typically not enough for the needs of the 200 homeless students.

She has developed an organization within Family Connections called Friends Helping Friends and it is for community who want to help with the needs of these children.

“A lot of times it is for kids needing help with glasses or emergency clothing or things like that,” Floyd said.

In addition to these children, the system has many children who do not meet the criteria to be assisted through the grant but who have the same needs.

If anyone would like more information about how to help local students call Floyd at 706859-3040 or email her at mfloyd@ chattooga.k12.ga.us.