Moore Public Schools Foundation

PROJECT PURPOSE

The purpose of the project is to develop stable housing for unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness. We plan to do this by purchasing land, building a community of tiny homes and a student resource center, while funding the program expenses. This project is a partnership between the Moore Public Schools Foundation, Bridges Inc., and Moore Public Schools. The Foundation will build the facilities, Bridges Inc. will replicate their proven concept from Bridges of Norman, and Moore Public Schools McKinney-Vento liaison will identify students in need. The mission of Bridges Inc. is to remove obstacles to high school graduation by providing the support, resources, care and guidance necessary for graduates to jumpstart their success into young adulthood. Due to COVID-19 the number of students experiencing homelessness has steadily increased. In addition to housing, the students would also receive counseling for life skills and would be provided advocates that assist them on their journey toward graduation and determining their life?s next step. The student resource center will provide space for virtual learning, recreational activities, clothing, and food. Mental health counseling and medical needs will also be provided.

EVIDENCE

We know students experiencing homelessness are 87% more likely to drop out of school than their stably housed peers. Modeling our project on the program Bridges of Norman validates that the interventions proposed will be successful. Bridges of Norman has successfully assisted over 1,000 students over the course of twenty years by removing barriers to graduation.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

In 2020-2021 there were 34 identified unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness in Moore Public Schools. This was a 325% increase from the 2019-2020 school year. We believe this number increased in large part due to the pandemic. As more efforts are placed on identification and more resources are available, we expect this number to continue to grow. In the area our school district encompasses there are no housing resources available to unaccompanied homeless youth, leaving this vulnerable population at risk. Through the completion of this project students will be provided a stable and safe place to live, allowing them the opportunity to change the trajectory of their life.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

The project?s impact will be measured by tracking data for how many unaccompanied students experiencing homelessness are served each year and the resources they are connected to. Costs will be monitored as the project is completed to ensure the budget is adhered to. Timelines will be created and monitored to ensure an on-time completion of the project. We will measure the number of local businesses impacted during the course of this project, increasing revenue for the state. We will compare the benefits of the project against the project goals by polling stakeholders.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma