The Choffin Career & Technical Center is now home to a new resource hub aimed to help students in the Youngstown City Schools facing homelessness.

The McKinney Vento Program became a standard in the late 1980's, aimed at providing kids facing homelessness the same access to public education that other students had. Now that program is taking shape in the Youngstown City School District.

"When a student comes into our district and they are homeless, they don't have to go through as much paperwork or red tape.", said Dr. Martin Freeman, supervisor of social services. Those can often be barriers to education.

The first of the three phase program kicked off Wednesday--a resource hub that provides students internet access, food and personal hygiene products.

"We want to be able to provide that so that they can get their schoolwork done.", said Garrick Matlock, the liaison for the McKinney Vento program, adding that it will also be a resource to help students find employment.

Phases two and three will incorporate an additional transportation vehicle, trainings for staff and the hiring of a mental health specialist and tutor for after-school needs.

Matlock says homelessness is more widespread then people realize--a reality for more than 300 students across the district.

"Families losing homes.", Matlock explained, saying there aren't just one or two catalysts for homelessness.

"We have some that experienced hurricanes that moved here from Puerto Rico and came to live with other family members. It can be kids that have come from countries experiencing war.", Matlock added.

Youngstown City Schools will receive close to $200,000 over the next three years to complete all three phases.