Each school district has a homeless liaison who works to identify and serve students who are experiencing homelessness. The purpose of this contract is to expand the outreach to these students and families.

The U.S. Department of Education under section 2001(b)(1) of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 has provided additional funding referred to as American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief- Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) to help support school districts in serving students experiencing homelessness. A contract with an organization to provide additional identification, system navigation and wrap-around services has been identified as fitting the need for students experiencing homelessness. The organization shall provide Information & Referrals Specialists who will screen every caller to see if they have school-aged children, Pre-K through 12, who are in enrolled in Alaska Public Schools or should be enrolled in Alaska Public Schools. The organization will provide uncomplicated, efficient access to community assistance. Callers reaching out will receive access to trained Information & Referral Specialists who will assess and screen their situation, provide referrals that meet their needs, and offer assistance designed to address the underlying cause of the problem. Although the exact number is unknown, we estimate an average of 10-20 calls per day.