The Fair Haven School on Grand Avenue may soon be New Haven’s first to have an on-site washer/dryer, designed for use by displaced and homeless families.
That news emerged at the January meeting of the Fair Haven Community Management Team, where Sergio Rodriguez, the school system’s point of contact for children in foster care, made the announcement.
Fair Haven School is the entryway school for new immigrants and, most recently, for many families displaced after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico.
At an aldermanic hearing in October, students and others testified that homeless kids’ attendance could be increased if laundry service were available in schools.
As of the end of the last school year, 521 students across New Haven’s public schools experienced homelessness. District officials calculated that 33.9 percent of them are chronically absent, meaning they’ve missed one-tenth of the school year.
Many of these students don’t show up because they can’t arrange transportation from temporary housing or don’t have backpacks or uniforms.
Schools in Newark, Oakland and Detroit have built laundry rooms with support from donors, at costs ranging from $13,000 to $20,000. And schools in Los Angeles, New Orleans, Atlanta and Chicago received washers and dryers for free from Whirlpool, after a principal in St. Louis reached out to the company with the idea.
Rodriguez said approval by the Board of Alders has already occurred. He predicted that installation of the machines would be happening soon.
In a follow-up call, schools Chief Operating Operator Michael Pinto said he is not aware of the status of the project but said it might also have to do with preparations for anticipated earthquake refugee families coming to New Haven and its schools from Puerto Rico.
Good idea, but I'm wondering how, (in practice!) city school officials will be able to differentiate between those truly destitute, and lower-income families who are simply looking to save money by utilizing free services.
Or is the idea to provide free laundry facilities to everyone?
If we are picking and choosing which families get to use public facilities, are we opening ourselves up to potential lawsuits? Could a cooperating church or other non-profit be a better solution?