WASHINGTON (WFLA/WRC) – A potentially college-bound high school football player has been ruled ineligible to play because he is homeless.
Jamal Speaks has an offer to play at Temple University.
But the D.C. public school system has ruled him ineligible to play because they can’t verify his address.
Speaks faced a similar problem two years ago, but the state athletic association ruled that he was allowed to play because he proved he was homeless.
Speaks said his father is deceased and he doesn’t get along with his mother.
A local city council person said this is important not just because Speaks want to play, but because playing football provides him with opportunity.
"I can't even practice right now, participate. I already proved I'm a homeless resident. My father deceased. I don't, me and my mom, we don't really talk like that, like, I don't talk to my mom,” Speaks said.
All of this is leaving his football career and future in limbo.
TooShiftyForYou on September 22nd, 2018 at 19:09 UTC »
This story has since been updated. A local homeless shelter has offered Jamal a place to stay and D.C. Public Schools said he can play for the Ballou football team again.
He is being recruited to play college football by Temple University.
A local shelter for homeless youth, Covenant House Greater Washington, heard Speaks' story and offered him a home, they announced Wednesday.
"After hearing that Jamal was experiencing homelessness and at-risk of losing the ability to pursue his dream of attending college and playing football, I knew that CHGW had to help," the organization's CEO, Dr. Madye Henson, said in a statement.
D.C. Public Schools said Wednesday that Speaks can now practice and play with his team.
"With the best interest of the student and the entire Ballou Knights football team in mind, we are working with DCSAA to resolve this matter as quickly as possible," the district said in a statement.
Speaks told News4 he's homeless and sleeps on friends' couches. He said his father is deceased and he doesn't have a relationship with his mother.
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pengwiny11 on September 22nd, 2018 at 18:59 UTC »
The messed up part is according to him, he’s proved he’s homeless to somebody already. It may not be the school district, but it could be the local government.
Obviously this young man wants to succeed and he’s earned an opportunity for higher education. I can’t imagine how much this sucks for him.
FattyCorpuscle on September 22nd, 2018 at 18:29 UTC »
How can he be eligible to attend school but not play football?