Millions in Federal Aid for Arizona’s Homeless Students Set to Expire Unspent After Three Years

The Arizona Department of Education is urgently calling on schools to utilize millions of dollars designated for homeless students before the funds expire at the end of the month. Nearly three years ago, Arizona received nearly $17 million in federal COVID-19 relief aimed at providing crucial resources such as temporary housing, transportation, and prepaid debit cards for homeless students.

However, recent data from the ADE reveals that nearly a quarter of these funds remain untouched. Various school districts informed Cronkite News that they were either unaware of the available aid or learned of it only recently. State education officials acknowledge a failure in communication, prompting renewed efforts ahead of the September 30 deadline.

State Superintendent Tom Horne stated, “We’re doing everything we can to make sure the money is spent.” His agency has intensified outreach, including phone calls to school officials, to correct what he described as a “breakdown of communication.” Interestingly, national figures mirror Arizona’s challenges, with approximately $315 million of $800 million in homeless aid unused across the country, as reported by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education.

In Arizona, grants to support homeless students have been set aside for 98 of the state’s more than 200 school districts and about 50 public charter schools. Although Horne’s agency communicated the availability of these grants in 2021 and 2022, it remains unclear what follow-up occurred until recently.

Jennifer Norred, business manager of Stanfield Elementary School District in Pinal County, expressed surprise about the $13,200 allocated for their homeless students, stating, “I wasn’t even aware that we had these funds provided to us.” Advocates for homeless youth, such as Barbara Duffield of SchoolHouse Connection, voiced frustrations about the delay in aid delivery. She noted that, “It means that they might go hungry… This is the way out of homelessness.”

A significant portion of the unspent funds in Arizona is attributed to The Leona Group, which operates 28 charter schools in the state. According to ADE data, the Leona Group has utilized approximately $240,000 of the $807,000 in grants available for homeless students. The organization declined to comment on the situation.

Contrastingly, even districts aware of the funds have not maximized their use. For instance, the Mesa Unified School District has spent about 80% of its $920,000 allocation, while Tucson Unified School District has $140,000 remaining out of nearly $1 million provided.

The $800 million allocated for homeless youth is part of a larger federal relief package initiated in early 2021, significantly aiding the most vulnerable groups affected by the pandemic. Arizona has seen a 30% increase in homelessness since the outbreak began, according to HUD, impacting more than 14,200 people, including one in nine who are children.

Students experiencing homelessness often face lower high school graduation rates due to challenges such as absenteeism and mental health issues. Dawn Bogart, co-CEO of Homeless Youth Connection, emphasized that stabilizing housing and support services can significantly improve educational outcomes for these students.

Despite the pressing need, over $3.55 million in allocated grants remain unspent, alongside an additional $285,000 from the ADE. A February survey by SchoolHouse Connection indicated that administrative hurdles have hindered many educators from utilizing the funding effectively.

In a push for action, Senators Kyrsten Sinema, Joe Manchin, and Lisa Murkowski unsuccessfully requested a one-year extension for the use of these funds, arguing that guidance from the U.S. Department of Education was delayed until last September. Sarka White, deputy associate superintendent at ADE, noted the difficulties caused by lack of clarity from federal officials, stating, “If they don’t get their money spent … we fail as well.” Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Education maintains that it has provided sufficient technical assistance to ensure local educational agencies effectively utilize these funds.