York City proclaims awareness week for students experiencing homelessness, names Nov. 21 ‘Red Shirt Day’

York City Council on Nov. 18 adopted a proclamation declaring November 2025 as Pennsylvania Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness Awareness Week and designating Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, as Red Shirt Day to raise awareness of students who lack stable housing.

The proclamation, read aloud by Council President Queen of Washington, cited the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and noted barriers that can prevent youth from attending school, including shortages of age-appropriate shelter and limited resources specific to unaccompanied minors. "We send a strong collective message that these students are not invisible," the president said while reading the proclamation.

Council urged residents to refer youth they suspect are experiencing homelessness to the School District of the City of York and other local schools so students can access services such as meals, hygiene items, and school-based supports. The proclamation also encouraged residents, workplaces and houses of worship to wear red on Nov. 21 as a visual show of support.

Sonia Pizzi of Pennsylvania Education for Youth Experiencing Homelessness addressed council after the proclamation and thanked members for the recognition: "I would like to sincerely thank all of you for this opportunity and for continuing to support this week," she said, noting the program's long-running efforts to support students.

The proclamation asks residents to share photos on social media using the event hashtags noted by the proclamation and emphasizes the role of schools as community lifelines for students facing housing instability. No formal vote count beyond the council's unanimous move to adopt the proclamation was recorded in the transcript.