Schools await stimulus funding for homeless students

Public schools are awaiting word on federal stimulus funding to help homeless children.

Elizabeth Hinz, district liaison for homeless and highly mobile students for Minneapolis Public Schools, says the State Department of Education is determining how to allocate the money to school districts.

"There will be some help, but it's not going to cover all the needs and it doesn't necessarily get people on an even footing to move forward with their lives, it's more of an emergency nature," she said.

Hinz said she expects the money in Minneapolis to go toward extended-day programming for homeless children and youth.

Minneapolis saw a 30 percent increase in homeless children this school year, largely because of the foreclosure crisis, Hinz said. Last year the district reported more than 5,500 homeless or highly mobile students.