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INfortwayne.com
December 2018
An invisible crisis by bridgett Hernandez bhernandez@kpcmedia.com
It’s an invisible crisis but if you look closely, the signs are there: the student nodding off in class, the school bus making a stop at a motel, the waiting lines to get into family shelters. “Family and student homelessness is often not visible (and is) even difficult to identify,” said Wendy Hoering, Families in Transition coordinator for Fort Wayne Community Schools. Hoering serves as the school corporation’s McKinney-Vento liaison. The federal program
provides assistances for students experiencing homelessness. Each year, communities across the country do a headcount of homeless Americans. The “point in time” count takes place during the last week in January, and counts people living in shelters as well as people who are “unsheltered” – living on the street, in parks, under bridges and in their cars. According to the 2017 count, 5,438 Hoosiers were homeless. However, it’s likely that the number of Hoosiers facing housing insecurity is much higher. That’s because
Think Plaid for the Holiday Season!
Covington Plaza 6410 West Jefferson Boulevard Fort Wayne, Indiana BRIDGETT HERNANDEZ
Vincent Village staff and families celebrate the completion of the Learning Center for Homeless Children. Interior design firm One Eleven Design donated its services to create a space for the children. The center, which serves almost 200 youth, will provide daily activities that include tutoring, art, literacy, social skill building and access to technology.
the “point in time” count largely overlooks homeless families. It doesn’t count families who are “doubled up” — living with a relative or a family friend due to an economic hardship — nor does it consider families living in long-term stay hotels and motels.
HOmeLeSS STUDeNTS
In the three years since Hoering entered her role, the number of students served through the program has increased: Almost 800 students qualified for the program for the 2015-16 school year. For the 2017-18 school year, the program served
CONTRIBUTED
The Woodside Middle School cheerleaders, led by head coach Apple EnglishFenton, won their third consecutive state championship title Oct. 18.
Woodside cheerleaders become three-time state champs by bridgett Hernandez bhernandez@kpcmedia.com
The Woodside Middle School cheerleading team went into this season with their eyes on the prize. The words on their team t-shirts said it all: “READY FOR A 3PEAT.” The seventh- and eighth-grade squad did not disappoint; the girls became three-time state champions at the Indiana Cheer State Championship at Decatur Central High School in Indianapolis Oct. 21. “We treated every warm-up and practice like
it was time to compete, and I think it really helped us win,” Megan McLaughlin, team co-captain, said. For the third year in a row, the team wowed judges with their routine. “When you look at their score sheets for this year, they were coming neck and neck with some of those large varsity (A division) high school teams,” Head Coach Apple English-Fenton said. The North Side High School graduate has been coaching the Woodside team for six years.
There are 22 seventhand eighth-grade girls on the team. It’s a talented group, but it’s the team’s strong foundation of support that has propelled them to such a high level of competition, EnglishFenton said. From a dedicated coaching staff to parents who make sure their student makes it to practice, it’s a team effort, she said. The school’s administrators and teachers have also been very supportive of the team and respect cheerleading as a sport, See CHAMPS, Page 3
260-436-3138 Holidays are just around the corner!
INSIDE:
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Family and student homelessness is often not visible (and is) even difficult to identify.” —Wendy Hoering, Families in Transition coordinator for Fort Wayne Community Schools
just fewer than 1,000 homeless students. “I don’t think it’s a new crisis. I think we’re doing See HOMELESS, Page 8
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the local arts scene has to offer this season. Page 4 cjmenswear.com