A New Haven parent told the Board of Education she and her children have been displaced and alleged the district’s recent allocation of homeless-services funds has been misused.

Maria Harris, a public commenter who identified herself as federally protected under the McKinney-Vento program, said the board approved $50,000 for homeless services last month and that she found the named recipient organizations told her they do not provide services to New Haven Public Schools. Harris asked the board to investigate and requested an audit by the district’s Office of Inspector General.

"When you're homeless, you're just thinking about where you're gonna lay your head at night... So last month, you guys approved $50,000 for homeless funds...the companies or these entities that were named that had took the $50,000 said they don't have no knowledge of New Haven Public Schools," Harris said during public comment.

Harris asked the board to audit both the $50,000 and a $40,000 allocation from the prior year, saying she had been directed to a single book bag and not the list of services she requested. The board chair acknowledged the comment and stated matters raised during public participation would be referred to administration for review.

What happens next: the board did not announce an immediate audit; the chair said public comments will be referred to administration for follow-up. Harris said she will report the matter to OIG if it is not investigated locally.