This legal definition encompasses individuals lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This includes children and youth sharing housing due to economic hardship or loss of housing, living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations; those in emergency or transitional shelters; abandoned in hospitals; or awaiting foster care placement. Furthermore, it extends to individuals with a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
Understanding this framework is critical to ensuring access to educational services for vulnerable populations. Its implementation facilitates identification and support for students experiencing housing instability, addressing barriers to enrollment, attendance, and academic success. The legislation provides a comprehensive safety net, promoting stability and equal opportunities for children and youth facing significant challenges. Enactment of this law reflected a national commitment to addressing the unique needs of this specific demographic and removing systemic obstacles to their well-being and educational advancement.
