GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — School District 51 identified 500 homeless children last year, and already 275 students have been identified the first quarter — “substantially higher than it's ever been at this time of year,” said prevention services coordinator Cathy Haller.

“We estimate (based on national statistics) at any given time there's another 20 percent (100 kids) not enrolled who should be,” Haller said.

The school district's REACH program (resources, education and advocacy for children who are homeless) identifies and assists children who are homeless by assigning one of three advocates who pay attention to the student's grades and attendance. Advocates also do outreach work, talking to families in parks when they see school-age kids not in class. Advocates also see to it that children receive free breakfast and lunch at school and that school fees are waived.

“Our role as far as we see it is to influence the lives of children that there is a better way, and education is critical to that,” Haller said.

While some of the increase in homelessness is situational, for other families it's a generational thing — “they don't know any other way,” Haller said. “Our goal is stability for the child.”

Once a child has been identified in a particular school, attempts are made to help that child remain there even if the family moves to another part of town.

“These kids are so mobile. Statistically for every school move a kid makes, he or she loses three or four months socially and academically,” Haller said. “If we can't minimize the moves the gaps get wider and wider.”

Homeless students have been identified in every school in the valley, Haller said.

The federal definition of homeless includes not only those who live outside, or sleep in shelters. Homelessness also includes those unable to find affordable housing, and so they couch surf, or reside in rundown or inadequate housing, Haller said.

“Many of our families are doubled, or tripled up,” Haller said. “Kids are sleeping on the floor, rotating who gets to sleep in a bed.”

Schools are well-trained in identifying families who are homeless, and discreet when administering services so children are not stigmatized, Haller said.

“What we're seeing now is a much bigger increase of families affected by the economy, who'd never sought services before,” Haller said.