May 2023 | Vol. 9 Iss. 05
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HOMELESS TEENS AT WEST JORDAN HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE A FRIEND AND ADVOCATE By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com
W
est Jordan high schools don’t have many homeless students, but the McKinney Vento representatives at Copper Hills High and West Jordan High believe even one homeless student is too many. McKinney Vento is a federal program that allows schools to help homeless students who might not have the support they need to succeed. Sometimes these students are living in shared-housing situations with other family members, or living in motels or shelters, or couch surfing at friends’ houses. Milonie Taylor at Copper Hills High and Robyn Luke at West Jordan High are McKinney Vento representatives, serving as liaisons for these students. Luke said the job has been life changing. “I have learned so many things from the point of view of what it’s like to be desperate, to be overwhelmed and want things and not know where to go and have compassion on those who are different,” she said. “You don’t know what they’re going through.” The program is intended to ensure students living in homeless situations keep their education stable, continue to attend classes and graduate. When teens register for school, a parent checks the box that says they are in a homeless situation. Part of Taylor and Luke’s job is to find out if the family is truly homeless and if it’s temporary or ongoing. They hold one-on-one meetings with these students to Continued page 12
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Pantries at West Jordan high schools provide food, clothing, personal care items and other resources for teens struggling with homelessness or food insecurity. (Photo courtesy of Milonie Taylor)
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