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District opens McKinney-Vento laundry room at Mark Denman to serve homeless families; use is free with appointment
Summary
District staff presented photos and operational details of a new laundry facility at Mark Denman for McKinney-Vento families. The facility opened in January, has outdoor access only, no user fee and is limited to clothing; district reported roughly 230 homeless students and said three families had used the room so far.
District staff updated the Danville District 118 Board of Education on a new laundry facility for McKinney-Vento families at Mark Denman, saying the space is complete, in use and intended to ease barriers for students and families experiencing homelessness.
The laundry room opened in January and staff said it has been used at least three times so far. Use is by appointment only: families are referred to school social workers or home program interventionists, and a staff member accompanies families during the appointment. The district said the laundry room is accessible only from the outside of Mark Denman, provides washers/dryers and supplies (soap, dryer sheets and laundry bags) purchased with McKinney-Vento funds, and is logged to monitor usage.
Why it matters: District staff estimated about 230 students in the district currently qualify as homeless or at risk under McKinney-Vento definitions; having an on-site laundry facility can remove a frequent practical barrier to school attendance and dignity for those families.
What staff described: Kelly Truex, director of educational support programs, said the district placed multi-function washer/dryer units and cabinetry, a sink, a family resources bulletin board and a table where parents can work while onsite. Building-and-grounds staff constructed the space in-house and the district said the total build cost was roughly $35,000. The district emphasized the room’s limited scope: it is intended for clothing only and not for large items such as comforters or bedding.
Funding and operations: The laundry machines and supplies were purchased with McKinney-Vento funds; staff explained that McKinney-Vento support had earlier included American Rescue Plan (ARP)-funded items that have since ended. The district said it has shifted some ongoing support for homeless families into Title I funds but noted Title I cannot be used for temporary hotel housing, a service the district had previously covered using ARP McKinney-Vento allocations. The district also described an internal emergency student-assistance fund administrators can and do use for immediate needs.
Access and safeguards: Staff said appointments must be scheduled with a social worker or home liaison; a district log documents each use; families must be accompanied by staff during the visit; and the facility is accessible only from the outside to avoid opening interior school access. There is no fee for families. District staff underscored that the facility is designed to be multi-purpose (e.g., families might use the companion table to complete housing or job applications while at the site).
Questions from the board: Board members asked about ongoing costs, long-term sustainment and whether staff or the public could use the facility. Administration said the roughly $35,000 construction cost was a one-time capital outlay done in-house and that operational use would be restricted to students/families referred via the social-work/home-liaison process; staff, by policy, would not use the facility for personal laundry.
Next steps: The district invited board members and community stakeholders to visit the space; administration said it will continue to monitor usage and to supply the facility as funds and staffing allow.
Ending: Administrators framed the laundry room as a durable, practical resource intended to support students’ basic needs and classroom participation.
