LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A walk in Louisville on Saturday raised awareness for students who face homelessness and other challenges.

Jefferson County Public Schools held the 2024 Mile in My Shoes at Shawnee Park on Saturday. It was a walk to support students who are homeless or in the foster care system.

"This is why raising awareness within JCPS and its community partners is vitally important," Giselle Danger, specialist in the JCPS Office of Access & Opportunity, said in a news release. “We know there are students experiencing housing instability in each of our schools. We hope to educate others on how to help identify them so we can provide these students with important services."

People participating in the one-mile walk learned about he challenges many students face like poverty, homelessness, foster care and other barriers young immigrants and refugee students face.

"Every child in our district deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed—no matter their circumstances," Dr. Marty Pollio, Superintendent of JCPS, said in a news release. “This walk is a step toward building a community that recognizes the challenges many of our students face and provides the support they need to thrive.”

Last year, there were more than 3,590 students identified as homeless, according to the school district. JCPS officials believe the true number of homeless students is at least double of that reported number. JCPS said nearly 5,000 students were identified as homeless the school year prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Most people when you say homelessness they assume someone is living in the streets, in a car, living in a shelter. That is very different from what we see at JCPS," Danger said. "Homeless students represent themselves in many different ways. You might have a family that is doubling up, living in the same house, you might have a family living in a house that is substandard."

The event also marked the official start to the JCPS 2024 Adopt-A-Family winter program. The program gives people the chance to provide gifts to homeless students during the school year.

Charity Patton walked in the event on Saturday.

"I have seen a lot of homeless babies inside of JCPS. It's good to help them out," Patton said. "It's not their fault, they didn't ask to be in this situation. It's a good thing to adopt, they need your help. There are so many babies that they just want stability."

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