Welcome to Olympia School District's

Welcome Room Program

located at Madison Elementary School

1225 Legion Way SE

Olympia, WA 98501

360.596.6313 phone

360.596.6301 fax


The Welcome Room is a program designed to assist homeless and at-risk students and their families within the Olympia School District.  Our program serves between approximately 500 homeless students every school year.

 

View the Welcome Room brochure for more information


The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act defines homelessness as the following living situations:

  • Shelter, vehicle or campground
  • Street, 24-hour restaurants, bus stations, etc.
  • Motel
  • Displaced due to natural disaster (hurricane, flood, earthquake, etc.)
  • Temporary placement in foster care or group home
  • Abandoned building, trailer or other inadequate accommodations
  • Doubled up with friends or relatives due to inability to find affordable housing
  • “Couch surfing”
  • “Bounced around” from family member to family member
  • Unaccompanied youth living on their own

 

People to contact for students who are homeless

  • Sarah Greenwell is the Homeless Liaison for the Olympia School District and can be reached at (360) 596-6313 or sgreenwell@osd.wednet.edu.

Community resources for students who are homeless

  • 2-1-1 – This is a telephone number that provides information on resources and services in the community, such as for physical & mental health, employment support, utility shutoff & eviction notices, etc.
  • Friendship Fund – Funds can be spent on needy students for clothes and school supplies. Contact Sarah Greenwell at (360) 596-6313 for more information.
  • WEA Children’s Fund – Members of the Washington Education Association can be reimbursed up to $100/year/student for clothes and school supplies. Please contact your child’s teacher or school counselor for information.
  • Shoe bank – The Masonic Temple has a shoe giveaway program for students and their younger siblings in the 3 area school districts: Olympia School District, North Thurston County & Tumwater. For a shoe voucher, please contact your school counselor or Sarah Greenwell at 596-6313.
  • Food Backpack Program – families are able to bring home food packets on Fridays for the weekend. Please contact your school counselor or Sarah Greenwell at (360) 596-6313 if you are interested in your child participating.
  • The South Puget Sound Reading Foundation and First Book offer free books to needy students. Generally, these books are appropriate for grades K-8.
  • The Family Support Network’s Community Resource Guide is available online at http://homelessadvocacy.wikispaces.com/. The Family Support Network can be reached by calling (360) 528-8999.

Rights of students who are homeless

  • You have the right to register your student(s) for school even if you do not have your full documentation such as immunization records, utility bill, birth certificate, etc.
  • Once registered, your student(s) can begin attending school within 1 or 2 days.
  • Your student(s) have the right to stay in the same school even if you move, if it is feasible and in the best interests of the child.
  • Your student(s) will be provided with school transportation with school buses, city bus passes, or gas vouchers.
  • Your student(s) are entitled to free lunch and breakfast without the need to fill out the form.
  • Your student must not be isolated or stigmatized.
  • The above services continue until the end of the school year in which homelessness ends for that family.
  • Each school district must have a Homeless Liaison. Sarah Greenwell is the Homeless Liaison for the Olympia School District and can be reached at (360) 596-6313.