Beloit School District: 631 students homeless, highest number ever

BELOIT, Wis. (WTVO) — According to the Beloit School District, 631 students are currently experiencing homelessness.

“We’ve seen some high numbers, but this is the highest number I’ve ever seen,” said Devin Blay-Stahl, the district’s Homeless Systems Navigator. “This is the highest number my homeless liaison has ever seen. And she’s been with the district for 19 years.”

Authorities say 200 of those students are between pre-K and 4th grade.

“When we’re looking at our numbers, a majority of the children are in elementary school, and we didn’t have anybody specifically focused on that area. So we worked with a grant, and we were able to bring on another position that worked specifically with the youth,” Blay-Stahl said.

With the help of a grant, the school district has partnered with several area nonprofits to create “Brain Bags,” backpacks loaded with activity packs to help keep students engaged during the summer months.

The bags will be given out to each student experiencing homelessness, from pre-K to 2nd Grade.

“We want to not only focus on intensive case management with our families, but our second focus is literacy. We truly believe that literacy and school are the key to leaving behind poverty and homelessness,” said Stateline Community Foundation’s Jessica Austin.

Each “Brain Bag” contains books, puzzles and activities.