The hidden homeless Thousands of suburban teens struggle to find a safe place to sleep every night. Rather than go public with their plight, these children often try to hide their situation, becoming almost invisible in the fabric of suburban life. Yet many refuse to give up the one thing that offers them stability and hope for a more secure future -- school.

Day 2: Syhemia Gray checks her answers
Her glance does not stray as classmates circle around when the 1:10 p.m. bell sounds. Gray knows she cannot afford the distraction today.

Day 1: Laura Guerrero knows she's late
She's got 62 minutes to make it to Elgin High School and two sons to wake, dress and deliver to day care in the meantime.

Who are the hidden homeless

More than 18,600 homeless students now attend Illinois public schools. Most hopscotch from one friend to another, camp in back yards or stay in shelters.

By law, a homeless child is defined as a juvenile who:

• Lacks an adequate, permanent home of his or her own;

• Lives in motels, trailer parks, shelters, cars, campgrounds or on the streets;

• Shares the home of others by economic necessity;

• Constantly shuffles from one place to another.

Source: McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act

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Without a Home

Primer on youth homelessness

An estimated 18,600 homeless students attended Illinois public schools last year, records show. Here is a list of Internet resources to help homeless youth and of research on the problem.

• Illinois State Board of Education: Homeless education

• Opening Doors: State-funded homeless education initiative

• Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness

• National Alliance to End Homelessness

• National Center on Family Homelessness

• National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty

• National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness

• Homelessness - Programs and the People They Serve

Source: Illinois State Board of Education, Daily Herald research

About the authors

Tara Malone joined the Daily Herald in 2003 and covers education, immigration and diversity.

She graduated from Georgetown University and received a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University.

She is a 2006 finalist in the Livingston awards sponsored by the University of Michigan and a 2006 finalist in the Lisagor awards hosted by the Chicago Headline Club.

Christopher Hankins joined the Daily Herald in 1996 and was a staff photographer until 2005 when he was named photo editor of the Elgin bureau.

He graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor's degree in journalism.

In March 2007 he received an Elgin Image Award from the city of Elgin for his contributions to the Elgin 1440 project, which documented a day in the life of the city.