Could a partnership between a school district and developer to build housing for homeless families be a model for removing one of the biggest barriers those students face?
Officials in the Edmonds School District and Housing Hope, an Everett-based affordable housing builder, are hoping a 52-unit development underway near Cedar Valley Community School could offer some answers — or at least broaden the conversation about how to improve students’ education and futures through early interventions.
The Edmonds project is unique in a couple of ways: It’s specifically for families whose children attend Edmonds schools and are considered homeless under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act because they don’t have a fixed place to sleep at night. That includes students who are living on the street; in cars, shelters or motels; or doubled up with family members or strangers. About 820 of Edmonds’ students met the criteria last year.