IMAGINE IF YOUR SCHOOL IS REALLY

YOUR ONLY HOME.

ACCORDING TO FEDERAL DATA, MORE

THAN A MILLION STUDENTS IN THE

UNITED STATES PUBLIC SCHOOL

SYSTEM ARE HOMELESS.

THAT IS UP 70% OVER THE LAST

DECADE.

CHRISTINE QUINN, THE SAME NEW

YORK POLITICIAN WHO ONCE RAN

AGAINST BLOOMBERG FOR MAYOR, IS

CURRENTLY PRESIDENT AND CEO OF

W.I.N., THE CITY'S LARGEST

PROVIDER OF SERVICES TO HOMELESS

WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

AND DANIEL ROSSO, SCHOOL

PRINCIPAL IN THE BRONX.

ONE OF THE POOREST CONGRESSIONAL

DISTRICTS IN THE U.S.

THEY SAT DOWN WITH HARI

SREENIVASAN TO TALK ABOUT THIS

DISTURBING TREND.

THE CONVERSATION IS PART OF OUR

ONGOING INITIATIVE ABOUT

POVERTY, JOBS, AND ECONOMIC

OPPORTUNITY IN AMERICA CALLED

"CHASING THE DREAM."

>> CHRISTINE QUINN, LET ME START

WITH YOU.

AROUND THE COUNTRY THERE ARE

MORE THAN 1.3 MILLION KIDS IN

SCHOOLS THAT ARE HOMELESS.

THAT'S UP 70% IN THE LAST

DECADE.

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

>> WELL, I THINK THIS HAPPENED

FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT

REASONS.

ONE, WE KNOW IN NEW YORK CITY

BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE HAVE

AN AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.

WE'VE SEEN THAT GROW, BUT WE

NEVER REALLY TOOK A MOMENT TO

STOP AND SAY, WHERE DOES IT END

UP?

AN AFFORDABILITY CRISIS AND

INCOME INEQUALITY CRISIS END UP

WITH APARTMENTS AND HOMES BEING

TOO EXPENSIVE FOR FAMILIES.

WHERE DO FAMILIES GO IF THEY

CAN'T AFFORD A HOME?

THEY END UP HOMELESS.

YES, WE HAVE GOOD UNEMPLOYMENT

NUMBERS IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT WE

NEVER TAKE A MOMENT TO LOOK AT

THE UNDERBELLY OF THEM AND HOW

MUCH OF THAT INCLUDES MINIMUM

WAGE WORKERS, FAST FOOD WORKERS,

PEOPLE WITH TWO OR THREE

FULL-TIME JOBS.

I BELIEVE THE HEART OF THIS

CRISIS IS CAUSED BY NO ONE

ACCEPTING THE REALITY THAT

HOMELESSNESS AND AFFORDABILITY

CRISIS ARE TWO SIDES OF THE SAME

COIN.

UNTIL WE CONNECT THEM AS IT

RELATES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

AND HOUSING POLICIES, WE'RE

GOING TO BE IN A HAMSTER WHEEL.

AND WHAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW

IS THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE

HOMELESS IN NEW YORK ARE

FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN.

70% OF THE PEOPLE IN SHELTERS

ARE FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN.

YOU DON'T SEE IT ON THE STREET.

IT'S A CRIME TO HAVE YOUR CHILD

ON THE STREET BUT IT'S A

REALITY.

53% OF MOTHERS IN SHELTER ARE

WORKING.

THEY'RE WORKING AND THEY

COULDN'T PAY THE RENT.

AND THIS I HOPE NOT HELD VIEW

ANYMORE THAT HOMELESS PEOPLE,

HOMELESS MOTHERS ARE LAZY AND

DRUG ADDICTS AND CRIMINALS AND

BROUGHT IT ON THEMSELVES?

THERE IS NO TRUTH TO THAT.

LET ME TELL YOU, THE HARDEST

WORKING, MOST RESILIENT PEOPLE I

HAVE EVER MET ARE THE HOMELESS

MOMS IN OUR SHELTER.

THEY CAN'T AND DON'T PULL THE

COVERS OVER THEIR HEADS.

BECAUSE THEY HAVE CHILDREN TO

TAKE CARE OF.

I'M TELLING YOU NEW YORK STORIES

BUT I HAVE COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE

COUNTRY, THESE ARE UNIVERSAL

STORIES.

>> WHAT ARE THE PHYSICAL

EFFECTS?

HOW DOES IT MANIFEST AT A SCHOOL

LEVEL?

WHAT HAPPENS?

>> SO, I MEAN, EACH CASE IS

DIFFERENT.

EACH CHILD IS DIFFERENT AND THE

CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH A

FAMILY ENDS UP HOMELESS IS

DIFFERENT.

BUT SOME OF THE RECURRING

THEMES WE SEE AT OUR SCHOOL IS

STUDENTS WITH IMPACTS ON THEIR

MENTAL HEALTH.

SO STUDENTS CAN BECOME

WITHDRAWN, DEPRESSED, PULLED

BACK FROM THEIR PEERS AND THEIR

CLASSMATES.

THAT'S USUALLY DRIVEN BY

ANXIETY, A SENSE OF THE SECURITY

HAS BEEN SHATTERED.

IMAGINE BEING A STUDENT WHO GETS

PICKED UP BY HIS MOTHER IN THE

AFTERNOON AND YOU WALK HOME A

COUPLE OF BLOCKS FROM THE SCHOOL

ONLY TO FIND THAT THE HOUSE, THE

APARTMENT DOOR IS PADLOCKED WITH

AN EVICTION NOTICE ON YOUR DOOR

AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU OWN IS

INSIDE.

IMAGINE THE INSECURITY THAT

FAMILY FEELS.

THEY LOOK AT THEIR CHILDREN AND

WHAT DO THEY DO?

OFTENTIMES THEY GO BACK TO WHERE

THEY CAME FROM, WHICH IS THE

SCHOOL.

THEY COUNT ON THE SCHOOL STAFF

TO HELP THEM WORK THROUGH

GETTING TO THE SHELTER SYSTEM,

BEING PROCESSED THROUGH P.A.T.H.

HERE IN NEW YORK CITY, AND ALL

OF THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE ABOUT

TO ENCOUNTER BEING HOMELESS.

>> TELL ME ABOUT SOME OF YOUR

KIDS.

>> I HAVE 500 BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN

IN THE SOUTH BRONX.

THIS PARTICULAR POPULATION

REQUIRES A LOT OF SUPPORT.

NOT ONLY AROUND THE ACADEMICS

LIKE CHRISTINE SAID, BUT WE HAVE

TO HAVE A FOOD PANTRY INSIDE THE

SCHOOL SO THAT FAMILIES THAT ARE

APPROACHING THE WEEKEND OR

SCHOOL HOLIDAY AND COME INTO THE

MAIN OFFICE AND LITERALLY SAY,

MR. RUSSO, WE DON'T HAVE FOOD IN

OUR HOUSE TO GET OUR FAMILY

THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

WE CAN TAKE THEM DOWN TO THE

FOOD PANTRY AND MAKE SURE THAT

THE FAMILY IS CARED FOR UNTIL

SCHOOL RESUMES AND BREAKFAST AND

LUNCH AT THE SCHOOL CONTINUES.

OUR CHILDREN GET FREE WINTER

COATS AS THE COLD WEATHER SETS

IN.

THEY GET FREE EYE EXAMS AND EYE

GLASSES.

THERE'S A LOT OF SERVICES BUT

YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE

PARTNERSHIPS YOU CAN BRING INTO

A SCHOOL IN A STRATEGIC AND

ORGANIZED WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT

YOU REACH ALL OF THE CHILDREN'S

NEEDS.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE

THAT PLAYS INTO THIS?

THERE ARE MAYORS AROUND THE

COUNTRY THAT SAY, HEY, WE'VE GOT

MORE SHELTERS ON THE WAY.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF, NOT IN MY

BACKYARD.

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THE SHELTERS.

LET'S FIX THE PROBLEM BUT YOU

REALIZE THE MAP INCLUDES

SOMETHING THAT IS SIX BLOCKS

FROM YOUR HOME, NO.

>> WELL, A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE, YOU KNOW, THE ULTIMATE GOAL

IS TO GET EVERYONE LIVING

INDEPENDENTLY PERMANENTLY IN

AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THE SHELTER IS NOT THE OVERALL

ANSWER.

BUT UNTIL THAT AFFORDABLE

HOUSING IS BUILT AND EXISTS,

PEOPLE NEED A PLACE TO BE.

AND THEY ALSO IN THAT PLACE, THE

SHELTER, NEED TO HAVE SERVICES

THAT DEAL WITH WHAT THEY'VE BEEN

THROUGH.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, 80% OF OUR

MOMS HAVE EXPERIENCED DOMESTIC

VIOLENCE IN THEIR ADULT

LIFETIME.

YOU KNOW, AND ON AND ON.

SO SHELTERS SHOULDN'T BE SEEN AS

THIS PLACE OF EVIL.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY PLACES OF

HEALING AND GROWTH.

AND THE NOT IN MY BACKYARD

PEOPLE?

GET OVER YOURSELF.

AND THE ELECTED OFFICIALS?

I USED TO BE AN ELECTED

OFFICIAL, AND I KNOW THOSE

CROWDS ARE SCARY, NO QUESTION.

WE NEED TO GET OVER OURSELVES.

THIS IS IS A -- FIRST OF ALL,

IF THEY DON'T PUT THE SHELTER 10

BLOCKS FROM YOU, WHERE ARE THEY

GOING TO PUT IT?

WHERE ARE PEOPLE GOING TO GO?

DO YOU WANT TO WAKE UP AND SEE A

MOTHER AND HER CHILDREN SLEEPING

ON THE STREET ON THE BLOCK YOU

LIVE ON?

PEOPLE NEED TO GO.

WHO THE HECK ARE YOU TO LOOK IN

THE FACE OF A 5-YEAR-OLD CHILD

IN AMERICA AND SAY, YOU KNOW,

YOU'RE EVIL AND I DON'T WANT YOU

NEAR ME.

>> YOU KNOW, IT ALSO MANIFESTS

ITSELF IN DISPROPORTIONATE

NUMBERS OF HOMELESS PEOPLE BEING

HOUSED IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS

IN NEW YORK CITY, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> CERTAINLY THERE ARE

COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE CITY THAT

AR LITTLE BIT LOUDER IN NOT IN

MY BACKYARD, AND THEY END UP

WITH LESS HOMELESS FAMILIES

BEING HOUSED IN THEIR

NEIGHBORHOODS.

IN MY SCHOOL, 30% OF OUR

STUDENTS LIVE IN TEMPORARY

HOUSING.

SO WE HAVE OVER 100 FAMILIES

THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING THROUGH

THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

OBVIOUSLY, IT'S A BIG LIFT.

IT'S A HEAVIER LIFT THAN

A PRINCIPAL MIGHT HAVE ON --

WE'LL SAY ANOTHER PART OF THE

CITY.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU CAN DEVELOP A SKILL SET

FOR THAT.

THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES THERE TO

REALLY HONE AND REFINE, NOT ONLY

THE SERVICES YOU PROVIDE, BUT

THE WAY IN WHICH YOU PROVIDE

THEM.

>> TELL ME WHAT AN AVERAGE DAY

IS LIKE FOR A STUDENT TO GET TO

YOUR SCHOOL BECAUSE THE

PROXIMITY SOMETIMES OF SHELTERS

AND SCHOOLS, AT LEAST IN A CITY

LIKE NEW YORK, IT'S NOT DOWN THE

BLOCK.

>> RIGHT.

SO CHRISTINE AND I WERE TALKING

ABOUT THIS EARLIER.

NEW YORK CITY IS ONE OF THE ONLY

CITIES IN THE COUNTRY WHERE

CITIZENS HAVE A RIGHT TO

SHELTER.

IF YOU'RE PROCESSING THROUGH

INTAKE AND YOU END UP GOING

FROM THE BRONX TO STATEN ISLAND

TO A MOTEL TO BE HOUSED, I MEAN,

THAT'S A WONDERFUL SERVICE THE

FAMILY IS PROVIDED, BUT THE

FAMILY ALSO WAKES UP IN THE

MORNING WITH NO WAY TO GET THE

CHILD BACK TO THE BRONX TO

SCHOOL.

THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DOES

PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR

STUDENTS BACK TO THEIR SCHOOL OF

ORIGIN BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF

INFORMATION TO SUGGEST THE

KEEPING OF AT LEAST THE

SCHOOLING CONSISTENT FOR THE

CHILD AS THEY GO THROUGH THIS

UNCERTAIN TIME WITH THE FAMILY

IS BENEFICIAL FOR THEM.

OF COURSE, THERE'S A

DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD.

PERHAPS YOU'RE PUTTING YOUR

CHILD ON THE BUS AT 5:30 PICKUP

TIME IN THE BRONX OR STATEN

ISLAND.

TWO NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE FAR

FROM US AND SENDING THEM ALL THE

WAY BACK TO OUR SCHOOL AND THE

CHILD IS GETTING DROPPED OFF AT

6:30 OR 7:00 AT NIGHT.

IT'S A GREAT SERVICE BUT IT ADDS

A LAYER OF CHALLENGE THAT

SOMETIMES MAKES THING A LITTLE

BIT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE

STUDENTS.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE

CHALLENGES?

I MEAN, IF YOU'RE IN A SHELTER,

FOR EXAMPLE, THEY HAVE CURFEWS.

THERE MIGHT BE RESTRICTIONS ON

WI-FI TO DO HOMEWORK.

>> NO, NO, THERE'S NOT

RESTRICTIONS ON WI-FI IN

SHELTER.

THERE IS NO WI-FI IN THE

SHELTERS IN NEW YORK CITY AND I

WOULD BE SHOCKED IF IT WAS

ANYWHERE ELSE.

SO THAT'S A HUGE ISSUE FOR MOM

LOOKING FOR A JOB, FOR HOMEWORK.

WE HAD A YOUNG MAN, WE HAD 39

CHILDREN FROM W.I.N. FACILITIES

GO TO COLLEGE IN AUGUST AND

SEPTEMBER, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST

EVER, WHICH IS AMAZING.

BUT A YOUNG MAN WHO GOT INTO A

BUNCH OF SCHOOLS, HE WROTE HIS

LETTER, HIS ESSAY, ON HIS PHONE.

THAT'S UNCONSCIONABLE.

SO THAT'S LIKE A BIG CHALLENGE.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, HOW DO

PARENTS KNOW IT'S PARENT/TEACHER

NIGHT, WHATEVER?

WE SEND OUT EMAILS.

>> WE CAN'T MESSAGE THEM ON AN

APP IF THERE'S NO WI-FI.

YOU CAN'T POST SOMETHING ONLINE

IF THE FAMILIES IN THE SHELTERS

DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THAT KIND

OF INFORMATION.

SO IT'S THE GOOD OLD-FASHIONED

KNOCKING ON DOORS, POSTING UP

SIGNS, BACKPACKING LETTERS HOME,

TRYING TO GET INFORMATION TO

PARENTS IF THERE'S A

COMMUNICATION GAP.

>> I WANT TO MENTION ONE OTHER

THING WHICH WORKS.

WE DO IT -- HE DOES IT AT HIS

SCHOOL BUT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY

THAT NEEDS TO BE MORE EMBRACED

IS TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE.

AND TRAUMA-INFORMED TRUE CARE

TRAINING FOR PEOPLE WHO INTERACT

WITH POPULATIONS LIKE THE

HOMELESS WHO ARE TRAUMATIZED.

WHEN EVERYONE GETS

TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE FROM THE

ENTRY LEVEL SECURITY GUY TO THE

Ph.D. WHO'S HEAD OF OUR SOCIAL

SERVICE PROGRAMS.

IT'S A NO-BLAME MODEL THAT GOES

INTO A SITUATION ASSUMING THAT

THE CLIENT IS BEING TRIGGERED.

>> TELL ME ABOUT SOME OF THE

TYPES OF DISCUSSIONS YOU'VE HAD

WITH YOUR STUDENTS.

WHAT KIND OF TRAUMA DO THEY COME

TO YOU WITH?

>> YOU KNOW, WITH STUDENTS IN A

K-5 SCHOOL, THEY WANT TO FEEL

SECURE AND KNOW THEIR NEEDS WILL

BE MET.

SOME OF THEIR PARENTS TRY TO

SHIELD THEM FROM WHAT IS GOING

ON, BUT THEY'RE INTUITIVE AND

THEY KNOW IF THEY'VE ARRIVED AT

THE DOOR AND IT'S PADLOCKED AND

THEY'RE HEADING BACK TO THE

SCHOOL, SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT.

SO WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IN THE

CLASSROOM THE NEXT DAY?

IT LOOKS LIKE A STUDENT WHO

WON'T HANG THEIR BACKPACK IN THE

CLOSET BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW

THEY'LL HAVE ACCESS TO IT AT THE

END OF THE DAY.

IT LOOKS LIKE A STUDENT STEALING

MILK OFF ANOTHER CHILD'S TRAY AT

LUNCH BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW

WHAT IS WAITING FOR THEM AT THE

SHELTER.

THERE'S ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT

WAYS THIS MANIFESTS ITSELF.

MOST OF THEM BECOME BARRIERS TO

LEARNING.

AND THAT'S, I THINK, THE MAIN

PROBLEM THAT WE AS A SCHOOL

SYSTEM ARE TRYING TO WORK

THROUGH IN A CITY WHERE THE

HOMELESS NUMBERS CONTINUE TO

RISE.

>> YOU WENT OUT TO, OR YOU STILL

GO OUT TO PLACES WHERE KIDS LIVE

PARTLY BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT'S

HARD TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THEM.

>> SURE.

>> ONE OF THE OCCASIONS I READ

THAT THERE WAS A GROUP OF

STUDENTS THAT WEREN'T COMING TO

SCHOOL.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THEY WEREN'T COMING TO SCHOOL.

WE MONITOR ATTENDANCE VERY

CLOSELY, OF COURSE, AND WE PAY

PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO OUR

STUDENTS IN TEMPORARY HOUSING.

BECAUSE WE WANT TO KNOW WHY

AREN'T THESE CHILDREN COMING TO

SCHOOL IF THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN A

ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD BY THE

SHELTER SYSTEM?

WHEN YOU NOTICE THAT STUDENTS,

INFLUX OF STUDENTS FROM THE SAME

BUILDING ARE NOT COMING TO

SCHOOL?

THAT'S A RED FLAG THAT SOMETHING

IS UP.

SO WE WENT AND KNOCKED ON DOORS

UNTIL ONE MOTHER ANSWERED AND

SAID HER CHILD HAD NOT BATHED IN

SEVERAL DAYS SO SHE WASN'T

SENDING HIM TO SCHOOL BECAUSE HE

SMELLED.

WE RALLIED THE PARENTS

TOGETHER --

>> THEY DIDN'T HAVE WATER?

>> THERE WAS NO WATER IN THE

BUILDING FOR SEVERAL DAYS.

WE RALLIED THE PARENTS.

I KNOCKED ON EVERY DOOR AND

FOUND EVERY STUDENT PLUS OTHER

FAMILIES WHO WERE NOT INVOLVED

IN THE SCHOOL AND TOLD THEM,

WALK DOWN THE BLOCK TO OUR CITY

COUNCIL OFFICE AND DEMAND THAT

SOMETHING BE DONE IN THIS

BUILDING TO RESTORE WATER.

THE NEXT DAY, THE WATER WAS

FLOWING AGAIN IN THAT BUILDING.

IT ONLY TOOK THEM TO GO MAKE

SOME NOISE AND STAND UP FOR

THEIR RIGHTS.

IT'S NOT RIGHT FOR ANY FAMILY IN

NEW YORK CITY, LET ALONE SOME OF

OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS,

TO BE LIVING WITHOUT WATER.

>> DO YOU SEE HUNDREDS OF MOMS

AND KIDS, DO KIDS CARRY THIS AS

IF IT'S THEIR FAULT?

>> HOMELESS CHILDREN BELIEVE

THEY BEAR THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR

WHY MOM AND THEY ARE IN SHELTER.

THEY CARRY IT WITH THEM.

IF I HAD BEEN BETTER, WHATEVER

THAT MEANS, DAD WOULDN'T HAVE

HIT HER.

IF I HADN'T WANTED THOSE

SNEAKERS, WE WOULDN'T HAVE

GOTTEN EVICTED.

WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PAY

THE RENT.

AND ADD ON TO THAT 80% OF THE

WOMEN, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, THAT

MEANS THE CHILDREN SAW IT.

EXPERIENCED IT.

LIVED IN THAT TERROR.

SO THEY ABSOLUTELY CARRY IT WITH

THEM.

ABSOLUTELY.

WE SEE IT.

WHEN YOU GO TO INTAKE P.A.T.H.,

AS DAN MENTIONED, YOU GET TO

BRING TWO BAGS OF YOUR STUFF

WITH YOU.

YOU'RE LEAVING YOUR APARTMENT IN

THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, GETTING

EVICTED.

YOU USUALLY BRING IT IN GARBAGE

BAGS.

HEFTY BAGS.

WE CAN'T USE HEFTY BAGS AROUND

THE SHELTER WHERE THE KIDS ARE,

BECAUSE WE WOULD BRING THEM INTO

A ROOM AND THE CHILDREN WOULD

FREAK OUT.

WHO'S GETTING KICKED OUT?

WHO ARE YOU THROWING OUT?

JUST THE SIMPLE SIGHT OF THE

BAGS FROM INTAKE TRIGGERED IT

FOR THEM.

SO IT'S ALL INSIDE OF THEM WITH

BLAMING THEMSELVES.

WHICH IS WHY YOU NEED TRAINED,

FOCUSED STAFF WHO ARE GOING TO

HELP THEM WORK THROUGH THAT.

>> SOMEBODY'S GOING TO ASK, SHE

WAS IN PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS,

WHAT IS SO TOUGH ABOUT THIS

PROBLEM?

WHY DID IT GET WORSE OVER THE

LAST 10 YEARS?

>> THERE'S A NUMBER OF REASONS.

ONE, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THE

HIGHEST LEVEL OF CARE THAT WE

SHOULD HAVE, ATTENTION TO IT, SO

TO SPEAK.

WHEN I WAS SPEAKER OF THE CITY

COUNCIL, WE HAD TO SUE MIKE

BLOOMBERG, AND WE BEAT HIM,

AROUND A POLICY HE PUT IN PLACE

THAT WOULD HAVE KEPT HOMELESS

INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SINGLE OUT

OF THE SHELTER.

NOT EVEN ALLOW THEM TO GET IN

THE DOOR.

WE'VE HAD PRIOR ADMINISTRATIONS

WHO CUT OUT THE RENTAL VOUCHER

THAT TENANTS -- HOMELESS PEOPLE

USE TO GET AN APARTMENT THAT WE,

IN THE COUNCIL, FOUGHT AGAINST

THAT FOR YEARS.

WE NOW -- THANKFULLY MAYOR DE

BLASIO PUT IT BACK IN PLACE, BUT

IT TOOK ALMOST THREE YEARS TO

PUT IT BACK IN PLACE.

I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN

CHAMPIONS IN GOVERNMENT AROUND

THIS ISSUE, AND I WOULD CREDIT

THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

WHEN I SERVED AS SOME OF THEM,

BUT WE NEED THIS TO GO TO THE

HIGHEST LEVELS AT THE HIGHEST

LEVELS OF ATTENTION.

>> YOU'RE RUNNING THE SCHOOL

THAT IS STILL, EVEN WITH THE

POPULATIONS YOU'RE SERVING,

COMPARED TO OTHER POPULATIONS

IN SIMILAR SCHOOLS, YOU'RE DOING

BETTER THAN AVERAGE BY A LONG

SHOT.

HOW DID YOU START TO TURN THIS

AROUND?

HOW DO YOU BUDGET DIFFERENTLY?

WHAT ARE THE KINDS OF RESOURCES

YOU'RE PUTTING IN YOUR SCHOOL

THAT PERHAPS CAN BE REPLICATED

ELSEWHERE?

>> SO YOU KNOW, WHEN WE STARTED

THE SCHOOL WE WERE REALLY

FOCUSED ON STRENGTHENING THE

INSTRUCTIONAL CORE, TEACHING AND

LEARNING, RIGHT?

AS WE GOT INTO THAT WORK IN THE

BEGINNING YEARS, WE SAW WE

COULDN'T GET TO THOSE IMPORTANT

ISSUES IF STUDENTS WERE NOT

READY TO LEARN.

IF THEY WERE NOT SETTING THE

CONDITIONS FOR LEARNING INSIDE

OF OUR SCHOOL.

>> IF THEY'RE HUNGRY IN THE

MORNING.

>> YEAH.

>> IF THEY'RE COMING TO SCHOOL

COLD AND THINKING ABOUT THE COLD

WALK HOME BECAUSE THEY DON'T

HAVE A WINTER COAT.

SO I THINK THAT THE SCHOOL

STARTED TO FIND SUCCESS WHEN

MYSELF AND THE REST OF THE STAFF

BEGAN TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IT

TOOK TO HAVE CHILDREN BE THEIR

BEST SHELVES, TO SHOW UP, TO

ATTEND ACADEMICALLY TO RIGOROUS

WORK, RIGOROUS STANDARDS WE HAVE

HERE IN NEW YORK CITY, OVERCOME

THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE IN PLACE

AGAINST THEM BY NO FAULT OF

THEIR OWN.

>> RIGHT.

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

HAS INCREASED THEIR SUPPORTS TO

SCHOOLS WITH LARGE NUMBER OF

TEMPORARY HOUSING.

WE DO HAVE A SOCIAL WORKER

THROUGH A PROGRAM CALLED

BRIDGING THE GAP IN NEW YORK

CITY WHERE WE HAVE A SOCIAL

WORKER IN THE BUILDING DEVOTED

FULL TIME TO SUPPORTING OUR

STUDENTS WHO ARE LIVING IN

TEMPORARY HOUSING.

PARTNERSHIP WITH --

>> THIS IS THE PROGRAM I TALKED

ABOUT.

>> YEAH.

PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE NEW YORK

CITY FOOD BANK TO ENSURE WE HAVE

THE FOOD PANTRY WITH NEW YORK

CARES.

IT'S ABOUT FINDING THE

PARTNERSHIPS AND MAKING THE TIME

TO BRING THE NEEDS OF THE

CHILDREN, ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL,

EMOTIONAL, TO THE FOREFRONT OF

THE WORK AND CREATING A STAFF

CULTURE LIKE CHRISTINE SAID THAT

BELIEVES IN A TRAUMA-INFORMED

APPROACH.

SO IF YOU SEE A CHILD ACTING OUT

OR NOT ATTENDING TO THEIR WORK,

YOU'RE NOT ASSUMING THEY'RE

LAZY, DISTRACTED, OR

DISINTERESTED, BUT THAT MAYBE

THERE'S SOMETHING INTERNALLY

GOING ON.

THAT THE GUIDANCE COUNSELOR AND

SOCIAL WORKER CAN HELP WITH,

THAT EVEN YOU AS A TEACHER CAN

BEGIN TO ATTEND TO, SO THAT

CHILD CAN GET TO THE REASON THE

PARENTS SENT THEM TO SCHOOL IN

THE MORNING, WHICH IS TO LEARN.

>> QUESTIONS TEEN AND DANIEL,

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.