Savannah's Homeless Students

Being a student is hard. 

You have to deal with exams, papers and pop quizzes…well, imagine having to facing all of that—while being homeless. 

It’s a growing problem according to the Savannah Chatham School Board. 

They say there are currently 445 homeless students in the district.  

And for many of them, the safest place they can be is at school.

Sharon Hill is the Homeless Liaison for the district. 

Previously, she had been working in shelters for over 8 years.

“School is where they are going to be fed…where they are going to be warm. They may share their plight with someone- it may be the only building the go to during the course of the day.”

But it doesn’t have to be that way--thanks to emergency shelters in the area that are for kids only. 

Like Park Place, a safe house for youth ages 11 to 17.

Linda Hilts is the Executive Director of the shelter.

“We see anywhere from 80-100 kids a year. The others, they are not seen. They don’t want to get picked up by the police and they don’t want to be put in the system. They are almost invisible but they still need help.”

Park Place is a 12 bed shelter that has all the comforts of home.

There are computers, games and TVs. And when they get home from school, they even get an afternoon snack.

Hilts says education is key.

“In addition to it being a safe place and keeping their life as stable as possible, school is very important. So we keep them in their school, and keep up with all their school work too.”

Hill says kids need to know they don’t ever have to sleep in the cold.

“I think the most important thing for them to understand is there are resources out there- no one else will know- we just want to make sure they are safe.”

Teens that are facing homelessness can speak with a counselor at Park Place's drop in center, located under the shelter at 514 East Henry Street.

There, they can also get a warm meal, clean clothes and a shower.

Park Place Emergency Shelter

514 East Henry Street
Savannah, GA 31401-6927
(912) 234-4048

www.parkplaceyes.org

Students needing assistance can also contact Sharon Hill, with the SCCPSS at 912-395-1092.