Submitted photo / Virginia Shank RaiTwann “Ray” Gaston, Warren city schools’ new family housing navigator, meets with Jill Merolla, the district’s supervisor of community outreach and grant development / homeless liaison, to review numbers and matters related to homelessness in the school district.

WARREN — Just a few weeks into his new position at the Warren City School District, RaiTwann “Ray” Gaston already has met with several families and spent countless hours advocating for their safety and stability.

Put simply, Gaston’s primary goal is to put a roof over the heads of those families in the Warren City School District confronting homelessness.

“I think there are a lot of misconceptions out there about homelessness,” Gaston said. “In reality, it can happen to anyone at any time. Entire families can lose their homes and become displaced, and the impact of this can be long-lasting and far reaching. The impact it can have on youth can be devastating.”

Gaston started his new job with the district Feb. 28 through a partnership with Warren-based Coleman Health Services. Coleman created a family housing navigator position several years ago. This year, the district was able to work with the social services agency to bring Gaston on as a full-time family housing navigator assigned exclusively to Warren schools. So far, this is a rarity in Ohio.

The number of homeless students has increased steadily each year from 179 in 2018-19 to 196 in 2019-20 and 206 during the 2020-21 school year. As of Friday, Warren has identified 159 youth and children in the school district as being homeless during the 2021-22 school year.

Last year, Ohio had 23,885 students experiencing homelessness, according to the Ohio Department of Education.

“Homelessness reaches beyond the stereotype of someone living in their car or on the street,” Jill Merolla, the district’s supervisor of community outreach and grant development / homeless liaison, explained. “For some families, it could be they have been displaced and are now living with family or friends in a double- or multiple-family situation in a single-dwelling residence, causing additional stress and hardship to everyone involved. It could arise from loss of a job, from an illness or a residential fire. Whatever the circumstance, the family is left without their own home.”

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (MVHAA), originally passed in 1987, defines “homeless children and youths” as individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. The federal legislation was reauthorized in 2015 by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), and amendments went into effect in 2016.

McKinney-Vento requires each school district to have a homeless liaison who works with families, community agencies and partners to best support students experiencing homelessness. Among other responsibilities, the liaison is tasked with making sure homeless students are identified and immediately enrolled in school with full and equal opportunity to succeed.

Warren was able to create the district’s family housing navigator post through federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding. Last year, the U.S. Department of Education designated an unprecedented $800 million “to support the urgent needs of homeless children and youth.” Of that, $799 million was earmarked for state educational services (SEAs) to meet the immediate needs of students experiencing homelessness.

The district applied for grant money and secured $183,575 to pay for the position and various costs associated with homeless support. The position will be funded for the next two years. At that time, the district will review the position and evaluate potential funding streams to continue providing the service to families.

Meanwhile, Gaston’s reach goes beyond handing his clients the keys to a new home. He looks at all the needs to make an appropriate, secure fit to ensure success and longevity. For example, he has assisted in procuring birth certificates; filling out housing forms and applications; researching and reviewing utility costs; and establishing budgets. He also helps those who are newly housed with resources to enable them to sustain their homes.

Growing up in the city and attending Warren city schools, Gaston explained, he was blessed to be able to find the beauty inside the city.

“We have so many great things in Warren we can be proud of,” he said.

A major asset is the Warren City School District, he added.

“When I was younger, I had a great experience developing and learning during my time in school because of the resources and hard work of the administration in the district. They had a huge impact on my future and a major reason why I accepted this position. I wanted the opportunity to be able to give back to the community and share the connections I have with people in need. What better way is there than working closely with the administration who changed your life for the better, as well as help the future generation become successful?”

Gaston was born in Youngstown but soon moved to Warren. He then attended Hiram College, where he played basketball, and is finishing his bachelor’s degree.

Part of his job involves not only working directly with families experiencing homelessness, but also those at risk of becoming homeless by providing direct assistance planning and overall evaluation of the family’s needs. These needs might include housing, education, food, clothing and mental health assistance, employment, life-skills management and providing links to community resources.

Gaston said one of his primary goals is to make sure families know resources and help are available to them.

“I remember being a student and needing some help with things whether it was food or clothing. I was blessed enough to have a mother that made sure I didn’t want because she used the community resources available to her and our family. If it’s one thing I want to accomplish in this position, it’s assisting families with awareness of the resources and programs they’re entitled to for assistance,” he said.

“This position is special to me because I’m able to give back to the community directly, and working to uplift and assist the next generation of the Warren community. There’s nothing better than to watch someone else become successful because you assisted them in their time of need.”