City & State New York – A new brief from Advocates for Children released Thursday morning highlights the crucial services the city’s 100 shelter-based community coordinators have been providing since the initiative began last school year. Unlike other shelter staff who help families find permanent housing and access public benefits, these coordinators exclusively focus on meeting the educational needs of children. Combating chronic absenteeism – something students living in temporary housing are particularly prone to – finding appropriate educational programs, securing transportation and helping new migrant arrivals enroll in and navigate a new school system have been some of the ways these individuals have helped families.

“It is unthinkable that funding for shelter-based community coordinators is in jeopardy at a time of such tremendous need,” Jennifer Pringle, director of Advocate For Children’s Learners in Temporary Housing project, said in a statement. “The (shelter-based community coordinators) have provided students and families with life-changing support, and the city urgently needs to identify a new funding source to ensure the continuity of their work.”