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ARC project reports 255 students identified as houseless; center cites backpacks, transport and housing help
Summary
The ARC drop-in center reported this school year it had 300 client contacts, delivered hundreds of backpacks and holiday meals, provided transportation assistance averaging $500–$600 per month and helped 26 families secure transitional housing; staff said 255 K–12 students currently qualify as houseless in the district.
Coos Bay SD 9 — The ARC Project, a drop-in center serving houseless children and youth in Coos County, reported program activity and outcomes to the board, including data on contacts, backpacks, transportation support and housing assistance.
Torres, who said she oversees the ARC Project, described the organization’s services: “We’re a drop-in center where we serve houseless children and youth within Coos County. Drop in center where we have basic needs services ranging from laundry, showers, hygiene, tents, tarps, clothing, everything in between.”
Key figures the ARC Project reported to the board: - 300 contacts so far this school year (clients who used services or requested help). - Approximately 350 backpacks assembled and distributed to students at county schools during the summer/back-to-school effort; volunteers helped assemble the packs. - For the holiday season, volunteers wrapped and distributed roughly 500 wrapped gifts to 42 children the program served that year. - Transportation assistance averages about $500–$600 per month; the largest single month this year was about $1,500. - The project arranged about 52 special-busing reroutes so far this school year (clients needing rides from other communities to retain school-of-origin placement). - The ARC Project and partners have helped about 26 families secure transitional housing so far this school year. - The districtwide count of students who currently qualify as houseless: about 255 K–12 students.
Torres said the center urges coordination with district staff to track academic outcomes and attendance for students the program serves; she told the board the center has seen stronger school engagement when families can maintain stable busing and basic supports. “We had this school year 300 contacts from clients…so far total…52–50 that we’ve had to do,” she said, describing transportation work.
Why it matters: The ARC Project is a community partner that connects houseless students to basic services and transportation needed to maintain school attendance and stability. Board members asked how the program tracks academic outcomes; Torres said they are beginning to look at graduation and attendance correlations and will work with district staff to improve data linkage.
Next steps: The ARC Project will continue to coordinate with the district on enrollment, attendance tracking and transportation needs. Board members and staff discussed potential partnerships to expand holiday and summer supports next year.
