Report shows 8,200 students left homeless

NEWS 9

A new report shows more than 8,200 students in our state are homeless. Many of those students can be found right here in Oklahoma City at one of the metro's largest shelters.

Jaqawn and Jayshad have been living at the City Rescue Mission since August.  They are just two of the on average 30-40 students who fill these seats every day.

Children's Chaplain Reverend Heather Selement has been at the mission for 3 years.  She says often homeless kids are mature for their age when it comes to life lessons.

"They are in what we call survival mode," Selement said. "They are constantly thinking about where they are going to get their next meal or where they are going to stay that night."

Although Jaqawn is keeping up in kindergarten, Selement says many homeless kids have trouble with schoolwork because their little minds have grown-up worries.

"A lot of our kids come to us and they are two to three grade levels behind from where they should be because it's a very transient population," Selement said.

The City Rescue Mission has tutoring for the kids, reading time, computer class and afterschool activities.  In a world that can a often spin out of control, the City Rescue Mission tries to provide a regular routine to help these kids find a sense of normalcy in their often complicated lives.  Officials work with schools to conceal the children's living status from other students.

"They are the first ones picked up on a school bus route and they are the last ones dropped off no matter what so their confidentiality is not broken in any way," Selement said.

The cards may be stacked against them, but at the City Rescue Mission, the kids are taught they have choices; choices that give them hope about their future.

"If we are going to break the cycle of homelessness we have to start with the kids," Selement said.

Most homeless students in our state are doubled up, meaning they are living with another family because they don't have any other options.