California’s Fresno Teachers Association (FTA) union is pushing to let homeless families park their cars in the Fresno Unified School District schools parking lots. The union is also asking for the district to allocate funds for security in the lots at $500,000.
Fresno Unified School District Chief Communications Officer, Nikki Henry said, “We do not plan to open our parking lots as FTA is demanding.” Henry added that the district’s experts are in “education, not housing.” Henry also said the district offers academic, emotional support and financial assistance along with services to foster their homeless students through Project ACCESS.
Manuel Bonilla, FTA President said this was one of the ideas listed as a “potential example” for helping the homeless youths. He said, “Our ideas are not the end all, be all; they are a starting point.” He continued to say, “Instead of coming to the table and designing something with us, they’d rather scrutinize the idea and shut down the conversation.”
Other allocation proposals to assist students from the FTA include $1 million for clothes and school supplies; $1.75 million for creating a food pantry with hygiene products; $20 million for addressing student homelessness; $1 million for free laundry services and $1 million for free yoga; and meditation and low-impact exercise. There has been a 30% increase in the 2022-23 school year from the previous school year with 496 homeless students in Fresno. In 2023, there have been 4,496 homeless students.
By - FZ
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