Opinion ID: 4360680
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: children and youths who

Text: are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; . . . 9 Id. § 11434a(2). Children who satisfy § 11434a(2)(B)(i) are often described as living “doubled up.” See U.S. Dep’t of Educ., Education for Homeless Children and Youths Program Non-Regulatory Guidance, 5 (2016), https://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/essa/160240ehcyguidan ce072716.pdf. There is no dispute that G.S. satisfied § 11434a(2) when he first moved in with his maternal grandmother. Rather, the question is whether G.S. continues to satisfy this definition almost four years later. Rose Tree argues that G.S. no longer lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence due to the fact that his doubled-up living arrangement has persisted for several years. We are not convinced. First, Rose Tree’s interpretation is inconsistent with the plain meaning of the statute. There is no dispute that G.S. continues to satisfy § 11434a(2)(B)(i), which is listed as a specific example of youth homelessness. Second, the Act does not impose a limit on the duration of homelessness. This undermines Rose Tree’s argument that a doubled-up arrangement can transform into a fixed, adequate, and regular nighttime residence if it persists long enough. Third, Rose Tree fails to cite any authority other than general provisions of the Act and the dictionary for its interpretation. This is unsurprising—to date, no court has adopted Rose Tree’s interpretation. Fourth, several circumstances particular to this case persuade us that G.S. is eligible for coverage. Rose Tree initially treated G.S. as homeless, and the parties agree his living arrangements have not changed. It is also compelling that Rose Tree has continued to enroll G.S.’s similarly situated sister, S.S., throughout the duration of this matter.1 And 1 Although S.S. is enrolled, the record is unclear as to whether Rose Tree still considers her to be homeless within the meaning of the McKinney-Vento Act. (App. 292–93.) At oral 10 finally, the Pennsylvania Department of Education determined that G.S. remains homeless. Although we are not bound by the Agency’s determination, we think it is well-reasoned and, therefore, instructive. To remove G.S. from the protections of the Act under these circumstances strikes us as nothing short of arbitrary. Accordingly, we agree that G.S. continues to qualify as homeless for purposes of enrollment in a Rose Tree school.