Project HELP seeks to serve the needs of students in temporary living situations by:

• Providing tutoring, supplemental instruction, and enriched educational services. Tutoring or other direct educational services are provided through after-school and weekend opportunities.
• Ensuring they have prompt access to needed evaluation services for enrollment in special programs.
• Ensuring that educators and other school personnel are aware of and sensitive to the needs of children and youth in temporary living situations, including the specific needs of runaway and unaccompanied youth, and the rights of such children and youth under the McKinney-Vento Act and the Runaway and Homeless Youth Assistance Act. Ensure that non homeless students are sensitive to the needs of their peers who are experiencing homelessness.
• Ensuring that their physical and mental health needs are identified and addressed.
• Ensuring that they are able to regularly and safely get to school.
• Ensuring awareness of district programs that may address their needs and are provided access to and opportunity to enroll in such programs.
• Ensuring access to school supplies and other extraordinary or emergency assistance, including payment of fees or other costs associated with school participation.
• Providing education and training to the parents/caretakers of homeless children and youth about 1) the rights of and resources available to their children, 2) effectively advocating for their children, 3) effective parenting skills, and 4) actively participating.

Students in temporary living situations, and their families, struggle with a variety of needs. As Project HELP strives to assist these students academically, we understand that for these parents/caretakers and students in crisis, academic needs are not always the highest priority. Their most predominate requests are for assistance with: shelter, housing, employment, childcare, food and clothing. We pursue a holistic approach to providing services. Project HELP staff address the immediate needs and requests as effectively as possible; while assuring that enrollment, attendance and academic support issues are quickly addressed. Academic needs we assist with on a daily basis are: enrollment, transportation to and from school, supplies, field trip and school fees, tutoring and enrichment activities, advocacy and liaison support.

Project HELP obtains key information from the student, and/or parent/caregiver, i.e. their most immediate needs for assistance and their academic situation. We work quickly to provide the necessary services, as well as to link them with other AISD programs and services, and services of other local service providers. We also receive referrals and requests for assistance from local shelters, case managers, Austin ISD personnel and clients.

By collaborating effectively with others to quickly remove obstacles faced by students in temporary living situations, these children and youth have a greater chance of enrolling, attending and succeeding academically.