For students with unstable homes, or in some cases no home at all, the holiday season can be an especially tough time, but school communities across Los Angeles are rallying to bring the festive spirit to students who need it most.
This year the Los Angeles Unified School District provided gift cards to over 590 households experiencing housing instability so they can purchase Christmas gifts — an initiative that reached 2,200 people in total. Da Vinci RISE High School, a public charter school in South L.A., is keeping its doors open throughout winter break for students to access holiday gifts, holiday meals, emergency rental assistance and counseling services.
For students living in shelters, group homes, or sleeping on couches or in cars, it can be painful to think about their peers opening presents with their families on Christmas day, said Naomi Lara, the principal at Da Vinci RISE High School. That is why it’s so important to make extra efforts to support vulnerable students during the holiday season, she added.
In Los Angeles County, the need is massive — there are more than 51,000 students experiencing homelessness and about 7,000 students in foster care.
“It’s an especially tough time for our students,” said Lara. “We’re on the lookout (for) withdrawals or any changes in behavior, any increases in anxiety so that we can talk with students — and try to see if there’s something deeper going on, or create a space for them to feel safe talking about it.”
Da Vinci RISE’s three charter campuses serve about 200 vulnerable students, including homeless students, foster students and formerly justice-involved students. Because many have no home to go to during the holidays, the high school keeps one site open during the break for students to access services.
At LAUSD, counselors and staff in the homeless education office also pay extra attention to high-need students around the holidays.
The district’s Sponsor-a-Family initiative is…
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