Dist. 211, Realtors raise money for homeless students

The High School District 211 Foundation and a group of Realtors called “Realtors Against Homelessness,” raised more than $13,000 to benefit the growing number of homeless students in District 211 at a fundraiser on Nov. 3.

These funds will help provide clothes, school supplies, grocery cards and other goods to help students experience high school opportunities that they would have enjoyed before becoming homeless.

The challenges of being a teenager can be taxing for just about every high school student at some time or another.

Unfortunately, last year in District 211, in addition to experiencing the typical challenges of adolescence and the demands of high school, more than 150 students went to school with the added challenge of not having a fixed or adequate residence.

According to federal laws, students are considered homeless if they lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence; share the housing of other persons due to the loss of housing resulting from economic hardship; or, if they are unaccompanied youth, including students who are unable to live in their home and are forced to find alternate shelter.

At a time when many families face serious financial challenges, a growing number of students go to school without a regular, stable place to live or to sleep each night.

For many of these students, school is the one place where they can receive regular, nutritious meals, enjoy opportunities and activities with their friends, and free themselves from worries that await them once the school day ends.

For additional information or to make a contribution, go to D211Foundation.org.