600 families in ISD 742 are experiencing homelessness and officials expect that number to grow

ST. CLOUD — Students from more than 600 families are experiencing homelessness right now, according to an ISD 742 school official.

That number could go as high as 1,000 families by February as winter gets colder, said Cocoa Bynum, Transitional Education Services coordinator.

“The need is growing, and things get trickier as it becomes colder,” she said. “We’re focused on students so they’re in a place to focus on school when they’re in the classroom, not things like where they will sleep or what they’re going to eat.”

Contributed / ISD 742

In 2023, about 7% of St. Cloud Area Schools students experienced homelessness.

Bynum began the 2024-25 academic year helping 300 families. As of Dec. 6, she and other Transitional Education Services staff are working with more than 600 families. She estimates that number could grow to around 1,000 by February.

Transitional Education Services are different from Social Services and other aid programs offered by the county, state or federal government, Bynum said. Her job is to focus on supporting ISD 742 students or, as she explains it, seeing the situation through the students’ point of view.

However, that doesn’t mean Transitional Education Services doesn’t support parents as well, she said. In her almost two years on the job, Bynum has helped parents enroll in GED programs, get funds to help pay bills, and find temporary housing at a shelter or hotel.

She can help the student by helping their parents or guardian, whether that is by helping get some form of education or employment development training or something else, Bynum said.

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According to Bynum, Transitional Education Services can help students and their families:

• Work with landlords to help waive application fees and find felon-friendly housing.
• Pay for students to take one driving permit test and one behind-the-wheel class.
• Get food.
• Get transportation to and from school.
• Get gas.
• Connect with other aid services.
• Get new clothes and backpacks.
• Get eye exams and glasses at America’s Best Eyeglasses.

Bynum has helped students get prom dresses, and she has personally done their hair for prom. She also has partnered with local laundromats to take students on trips every Friday during the school year to wash their clothes at no expense to them, she said.

“I do not like the name 'transitional services’ because there’s just no growth,” she said. “I wish there was something as far as like 'transformation’ services. Like, how can we get you from here, the starting point in this transition, out of this transition to where it can be something that they can transform their lives.

“Transformation services” allow for students and families to gain skill sets needed to help them get out of bad situations, Bynum said.

Being a Transitional Education Services coordinator is Bynum’s life calling, she said. She sees all the students and families she helps as her students and her family.

The 1987 McKinney-Vento Homeless Act ensures children experiencing homelessness have equal access to public education by requiring schools to provide services, appoint liaisons, and offer support to help these students succeed academically, according to the National Center for Homeless Education.

To qualify for ISD 742’s Transitional Education Services, families must be living in transitional housing situations:

• Shelter, motel, vehicle or campground.
• On the street.
• In an abandoned building or other inadequate space.
• Doubling up — living with friends or relatives because of the inability to find or afford housing.

Families can enroll in the program at the district’s Welcome Center at Quarryview Education Center, 800 Seventh St. S, Waite Park.

Bynum meets about half the families she works with this way. She will also receive tips from district social workers, teachers or other staff about students who may benefit from Transitional Education Services, and she reaches out to them and their families, she said.

The district checks with enrolled families on July 1 to see if their student is still eligible for services during the upcoming school year, Bynum said.

A student is no longer eligible if they now have a permanent residence. Once a student is enrolled, Transitional Education Services will help support the student for the academic year even if their family finds a permanent residence during that time.

While the need for Transitional Education Services is growing, Bynum is determined to help as many students and families as possible

“Even with our numbers increasing … I don’t want to always look at it as I don’t want to look at it like a negative thing. [Transitional Education Services] needs to embrace these families, and then we need to help and support them,” she said. “I like to see this as my family is growing.”

• What: Transitional Education Services office
• Where: Welcome Center at Quarryview Education Center, 800 Seventh St. S, Waite Park
• Online: academics.isd742.org/title-i/transitional-education-services
• Contact Bynum: 320-370-8059 or colia.bynum@isd742.org

Area shelters:

• 180 Degrees St. Cloud Youth Shelter, 1101 Washington Memorial Drive, St. Cloud; www.180degrees.org.  
• Lincoln Center — Homeless Helping Homeless, 630 Lincoln Ave. SE, St. Cloud; 320-342-2232, homelesshelpinghomeless.org.
• The Salvation Army St. Cloud Corps and Community Center, 400 U.S. Highway 10, St. Cloud; 320-252-4552,  centralusa.salvationarmy.org/northern/StCloud/programs-and-services.