BEING THEIR ADVOCATE: HELPING HOMELESS YOUTH ACCESS HIGHER EDUCATION

College Connections for Student SuccessFebruary 2014

Meet NAEHCY

The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) is a national grassroots membership association that connects educators, parents, advocates, researchers, and service providers to ensure school enrollment, attendance and overall success for children and youth whose lives have been disrupted by the lack of safe, permanent, and adequate housing. Website: http://www.naehcy.org

How Many Youth Experience Homelessness?

• 1.2 million children/youth• Public schools 1,168,354 homeless

children/youth in 2012-13– 10% increase over last year– 24% increase overall since the 2009-2010

school year– 44 states (83%) reported increases

• 2012-2013 FAFSA Data – 58,158 unaccompanied homeless youth

nationwide– 1,735 unaccompanied homeless youth in

GA– 57% increase from the 2011-2012

academic year

Paths to Being “On Our Own” Family conflict: blended family issues,

pregnancy, sexual activity or orientation, school problems, substance abuse

Abuse and/or neglect within the home Parental incarceration, illness,

hospitalization, or death Lack of space in temporary situations or

shelter policies that prohibit adolescent boys

Paths Continued

Child welfare issues Running away from a placement Aging out of the system Significant correlation between involvement

with the child welfare system and experiencing homelessness as an adult

But the Student Choose to Leave A youth can be eligible regardless of

whether he/she was asked to leave the home or chose to leave

Sometimes there is “more than meets the eye” for youth’s home life situations

Educators do not need to understand or agree with all aspects of a student’s home life to comply with federal educational mandates

Eligibility for McKinney-Vento Rights & Services

Children or youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including: Sharing the housing of others due to loss of

housing, economic hardship, or similar reason Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping

grounds due to the lack of adequate alternative accommodations

Living in emergency or transitional shelters Awaiting foster care placement

Eligibility Continued

Living in a public or private place not designed for humans to live

Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or a similar setting

Migratory children living in the above circumstances

Unaccompanied youth living in the above circumstances

For more info, see NCHE’s Determining Eligibility brief at www.serve.org/nche/briefs.php

Fixed, Regular, Adequate

Fixed: Stationary, permanent, and not subject to change

Regular: Used on a predictable, routine, or consistent basis (e.g. nightly); consider the relative permanence

Adequate: Sufficient for meeting both the physical and psychological needs typically met in home environments

Can the student go to the SAME PLACE (fixed) EVERY NIGHT (regular) to sleep in a

SAFE AND SUFFICIENT SPACE (adequate)?

Why the Broad Definition?

Shelters are often full and turn away youth No shelters in many suburban and rural areas Eligibility rules of often exclude

unaccompanied minors Youth may fear adult shelters Shelters often have time limits Youth may be unaware of alternatives, fleeing

in crisis, living in over-crowded, temporary, and sometimes unsafe environments

Shelters often are a last resort after all other possibilities are exhausted

Unaccompanied Students Under MV

2-step process to determine eligibility1)Does the student’s living arrangement meet

the McKinney-Vento Act’s definition of homeless?

2)Once homelessness is determined, is the student unaccompanied?

Unaccompanied “not in the physical custody of a parent or

guardian”

Barriers to Higher Education for Unaccompanied Homeless

Lack of access to parental financial information and support Lack of financial means to live independently and safelyInability to be financially self-sufficient once enrolled in collegeLimited housing options, especially in small towns or rural areasStruggling to balance school and other responsibilitiesLack of adult guidance and support Lack of information about available support systems

Poll

Unaccompanied homeless youth may or may not feel comfortable giving sufficient details to enrollment staff to provide an

adequate understanding of their home life.Would you discuss personal issues with an

authority figure you have just met?

Financial Aid and FAFSA Basics

Expected family contribution (EFC): Families are expected to contribute to higher education costs to the extent they are able

FAFSA Cannot be filed before January 1 prior to the

academic year in which student seeks to enroll For dependent students, income and asset

information required for both the student and a parent; parental signature required

For independent students, no parental signature nor income and asset information is needed

101

UHY and the FAFSA

2012-13 ONLINE FAFSA

College Cost Reduction And Act (CCRAA)

Independent student status for unaccompanied homeless youth and self-supporting youth at risk of homelessness Can apply for financial aid without

parental signature or consideration of parental income

Must be determined by: Local liaison RHYA-funded shelter director or designee HUD-funded shelter director or designee College financial aid administrator

Verification of Status Form

Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Documentation of Independent Student Status for the FAFSA Can be used by any of the four verifiers Copy should be on file with the school, one

with student, and one sent to college/university

Valid for one academic year

Application and Verification Guide

Updated Application and Verification Guide released in 2013

Borrows language from NCHE’s Determining Eligibility brief

Student can use the college’s administrative address as his/her mailing address

UHY may be 21 or younger or still enrolled in high school on the date he/she signs the FAFSA

Dependency override required for 22-23 year olds

24 or older is automatic independent status

Application and Verification Guide

FAA verification Not required unless there is conflicting

information Documented interview (even via phone) is

acceptable Should be done with discretion and sensitivity

Some information may be confidential (e.g. protected by doctor-patient privilege)

Child welfare reports are not necessary Guidance recommends consulting with local

liaisons, State Coordinators, NAEHCY, school counselors, clergy, etc.

Role of the Financial Aid Administrator (FAA)

According to the AVG, if a student does not have, and cannot get, documentation from a local liaison, RHYA provider, or HUD provider, a FAA must make a determination of homeless/unaccompanied status

This is not an “exercise of professional judgment” or a “dependency override” for youth 21 and younger; this is determining the independent student status of an unaccompanied homeless youth

Campus Support Services

College Student

Financial Aid Admissi

ons

Registrar

Health Services

Counseling Services

Police & Public Safety

Residence Life

Academic Support

Community Support Services

College Student

UHY

DHS

ETV

ShelterMedicaid

CMH

Public Assistance

DHS

ETV

YITMedicaid

CMH

Public Assistance

College Student

Financial Aid Admissi

ons

Registrar

Health Services

Counseling Services

Police & Public Safety

Residence Life

Academic Support

Navigating Multiple Systems

Best Practices on Campus

Establish coordination between financial aid offices, student support services, and campus housing

Open a food and clothing bank on campus Consider housing options for homeless

students when dorms close: Leaving one residence hall open Allow UHY to stay in housing for

international students Provide a list of “host homes” in the

community Establish Single Points of Contact (SPOCS) in

colleges/universities to help eliminate barriers to higher education access

Best Practices on Campus for SPOC’s SPOC’s can come from any office on campus Assist students with the following

Admissions Financial Aid Academic Advising

Remediation, Tutoring Student Life

Housing, Counseling Center, Health Center, TRIO Programs (Talent Search, Upward Bound, EOC, GEAR-

UP),Learning Disabilities Services, Life Skills, Financial Literacy, Mentoring Programs

Best Practices Continued

Connect students with federal and community resources that they may be eligible for Medicaid Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Runaway and Homeless Youth Act Funded Shelters

(RHYA) Administration for Children and Families

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/grants/fysb-grantees

Statewide Networks

Convene a meeting with local stakeholders from the McKinney-Vento K-12, Foster Care, Higher Education, and RHYA/HUD shelter communities as well as other local service providers and advocates

Allow each to share knowledge about their area of expertise UHY and independent student definitions Financial aid Campus and community resources

Build an action plan for serving UHY that makes sense for your community

Statewide Networks

Four Established Statewide Networks Colorado, North Carolina, Kentucky, New

Hampshire Have Single Points of Contact (SPOC’s) at

each college/university Six New Statewide Networks

Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Florida

Upcoming Networks Indiana, Montana, New York, New Jersey,

Virginia

Colorado Network Example

Consists of stakeholders from: Colorado Department of Education K-12 McKinney-Vento Liaisons Higher Education personnel from Financial

Aid, Admissions, and Student Support Services

Collaborates to streamline the verification process between K-12 and higher education

Has established Single Points of Contact (SPOCS) in all CO colleges/universities to help eliminate barriers to higher education access

Colorado Network Continued Barriers addressed included waiving application

fees, deferring housing deposits, and connecting students with community resources

In 2011 the Colorado taskforce along with the nonprofit homeless service provider Family Tree established private funding to assist UHY. SPOCs apply for funding through Family Tree to

provide student IDs, bedding, toiletry items, and other basic needs not covered by other sources

LeTendre Scholarship

How do students apply? http://

naehcy.org/letendre-scholarship-fund/about-the-fund Applicants must submit:

1) A completed application form;2) An essay about the impact of homelessness on the their lives and their desire to attend college (500-1,000 words)

3) An official school transcript 4) A minimum of one letter of recommendation from a

teacher, counselor, or other adult who can speak to the applicant's qualifications and experiences

Deadline to apply for $2000 scholarship is June 2014

NAEHCY Resources

NAEHCY Higher Education Hotline:855-446-2673

http://www.naehcy.org Cyekeia Lee, Higher Education Liaison, clee@naehcy.org NAEHCY College Access and Success Toolkit,

http://naehcy.org/sites/default/files/dl/toolkit.pdf Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Toolkits, FAFSA Week:http://naehcy.org/tk/cl.html NAEHCY Podcast Series

http://naehcy.org/educational-resources/podcasts FAFSA Tips for Unaccompanied Youth Without Stable Housing Helping Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Access College Financial

Aid Brief

Additional Resources

National Center for Homeless Education http://

center.serve.org/nche/states/state_resources.php National Resources Center for Permanency and

Family Connections http://

www.nrcpfc.org/fostering_connections/education.html National College Access Network

http://www.collegeaccess.org/ National Network for Youth

http://www.nn4youth.org/