Our Mission
Project HELP's mission is to ensure the educational rights and protections due under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to all students experiencing homelessness.
Program Goals
Three primary goals of Project HELP include: (1) providing services to an increasing number of Austin ISD students under McKinney-Vento, (2) maintaining partnerships/collaborations with our many community resource collaborators, and (3) ensuring our service strategies are student-centered and aligned with students foremost being academically successful.
Homeless Children and Youth under the McKinney-Vento Act
Who are Homeless Children and Unaccompanied Youth?
McKinney-Vento Act (Section 725) identifies homeless children and youth as those who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. Key provisions in identifying homeless children and youth include, but are not limited to:
- Doubled-up with other persons due to loss of housing, hardship or similar reason
- Living in motels, outdoor/public spaces, substandard housing or similar settings
- Living in shelters (emergency or transitional) or transitional housing programs
- Migratory children who are living in any of the above circumstances
TEA McKinney Vento Flyer for Parents - English
TEA McKinney Vento Flyer for Parents - Spanish
TEA McKinney Vento Flyer for Students - English
TEA McKinney Vento Flyer for Students - English
Contact Us
Project HELP
Department of School, Family & Community Education
Campbell Elementary School
2613 Rogers Ave. Room 207
Austin, TX 78722
Office: 512-414-3690
Fax: 512-414-0761
Liaisons Chart
Rosie Coleman, Coordinator & District Homeless/Foster Care Liaison
Austin ISD - Department of School, Family and Community Education
512-414-0114
rosie.coleman@austinisd.org
Laurie Lopez, Clerk V
512-414-3691
laurie.lopez@austinisd.org
Howard Hooper, Jr., Project Supervisor
512-414-0760
howard.hooper@austinisd.org
Vertical Teams:
- Anderson High School Vertical Team
- Austin High Vertical Team
- McCallum High School Vertical Team
- Navarro Vertical Team
- Clifton School
- Foundation for the Homeless
Martha Rivera, Project Supervisor
512-414-0758
martha.rivera@austinisd.org
Vertical Teams:
- Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders
- Garza Independence High School
- LBJ/LASA High School Vertical Team
- Northeast High School Vertical Team
- Travis High School Vertical Team
- Rosedale
Homebound
Foster Care
Foundation Communities
Posada Esperanza
SafePlace
Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program (JJAEP)
LifeWorks
Salvation Army
Austin Women and Children's Shelter
Lupe Ochoa, Project Supervisor
512-414-6748
lupe.ochoa@austinisd.org
Vertical Teams:
- Akins High School Vertical Team
- Bowie High School Vertical Team
- Crockett High School Vertical Team
- Eastside/International High Schools Vertical Team
- Rosedale
Visit the Austin ISD Project Help page for more information.