Identifying and Assisting Homeless Students

Sailing away the winter blues with ISFAA …

2015 Winter Conference

Today’s Goals After today’s presentation, we hope you will:

o Know where to locate state and local homeless liaisonso Know where to locate online resourceso Understand the relevant definitions o Understand the regulations in relationship to

identifying homeless/at risk studentso Understand the regulations in relationship to

simplifying the determination process for the studento Appreciate the importance of providing services for

these students

2012 -2014 Statistics (National Center for Homeless Education) 15,777 homeless children (enrolled in public school)

living in Indiana 1,258,182 homeless children in the U.S. Approximately 58,000 homeless attending college

The McKinney-Vento Act The McKinney-Vento Act (1987)

o Federal education law (NCLB Title X, Part C 2001)o Designed to ensure school access and promote school

success for children and youth who are considered “homeless”.

Every school district must designate a McKinney-Vento (MV) District Liaison.o The key to McKinney-Vento Act implementation.o Ensures identification, enrollment, transportation, services,

dispute resolution, and awareness.

Every state must designate an MV State Liaisono Ms. Julie Smart, Interim Contact, IN Dept of Ed

Financial Aid Implications The College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA -

2007) expanded definition of independent student to include homeless student as defined by the McKinney-Vento Act

A student is independent if at any time on or after July 1, 2013, he is determined to be:o An unaccompanied youth who is homeless, ORo An unaccompanied youth who is self-supporting and at risk of

being homeless Determination is irrespective of if the student is

CURRENTLY homeless or at risk

FAFSA Questions 56 – At any time on or after July 1, 2013, did your high school or

school district homeless liaison determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?

57 – At any time on or after July 1, 2013, did the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?

58 – At any time on or after July 1, 2013, did the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or was self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?

Homeless Youth Definitions Homeless

o Lacking fixed, regular and adequate housingo If student is living in this situation , fleeing an abusive parent, they may be

considered homeless, even if the parent would provide support and a place to liveo A youth can be homeless even if he CHOSE to leave home

At risk of being homelesso Is the student’s housing likely to be cease being fixed, regular and adequate?o Is the student at risk of homelessness due to eviction or other housing loss?

Self-supportingo Student is responsible for their living expenses, including fixed, regular and

adequate housing

Unaccompaniedo Not in the physical company of a parent or guardian

Youtho 21 years of age or younger ORo Still enrolled in high school as of the date the FAFSA is signed

Housing Definitions Fixed

o Stationary and permanento Not likely to change

Regularo Used on a predictable, consistent, or routine basis

Adequateo Sufficient for meeting both the physical and psychological

needs typically met in the home

Examples of Homelessness Sharing the house of others Living in motels, hotels, or camping grounds Living in an emergency or transitional shelter Awaiting foster care placement Living in places not designed for humans to live Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, bus, or

train stations Migratory children also qualify as homeless when

living under these conditions

Why is the Definition so broad? Shelters are often full, turning youth away There are no shelters in many suburban/rural areas Eligibility rules of shelters often exclude

unaccompanied minors Youth may fear adult shelters Shelters often have 30-, 60-, or 90-day 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

What Causes Homelessness in Youth? Family dysfunction

o Conflict with step-parentso Conflict over youth’s sexual orientationo Conflict over youth’s pregnancyo Family violenceo Loss of parents (due to incarceration, illness or death)

Forced separationo Lack of space in temporary accommodationso Shelter policies that prohibit adolescent boyso Family cannot afford to care for older youth

Who Makes the Status Determination?

Determination can be made byo School district homeless liaisono The director (or designee) of an emergency shelter or

transitional housing program funded by HUDo Director (or designee) of a runaway or homeless

youth basic center or transitional living program, ORo In the case of none of the above, the FAA must

determine

The FAA’s Role Do not further question the student if the homeless

determination is made by one of the three authorized agencies: an MV liaison, Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) provider, or Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provider.

If you suspect the agency is wrong or the agency is abusing the system, contact the o School District Liaison, oro Director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program, oro Director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center

According to the AVG, if a student has not been determined to be homeless by one of the three authorized agencies, the FAA must make the determination of homeless/unaccompanied status.

The FAA’s Role in Determination Determine status on a case-by-case basis Develop a checklist or interview form to ensure:

o That students are treated fairlyo Determinations are made on consistent criteria

Documentation must include the FAA’s determination that the student meets the homeless definition (e.g., completed interview form with FAA notes)

FAA may choose to collect 3rd party documentation (i.e. clergy, teacher, grandparent)

FAA Determination of Homelessness/At Risk Create a process for determination that is sensitive to

the unique needs of these youth.o Conduct the interview within the same day of the

student’s college/university visits if at all possible.o Do not use the word “homeless”o Do not interview the youth in front of others.o If they do not have paperwork, work with them.o Let them use resources that may not be readily

available to them, such as the computer, phone or fax machine.

Sample Questions to Determine “Homelessness” Tell me about where you’re living. Is this a permanent

or temporary arrangement?

Are you looking for another place to live?

Why are you staying in your current place?

Where would you go if you couldn’t stay where you are?

Are you staying with friends/relatives for just a little while?

Could your friends/relatives ask you to leave, if they wanted to?

Sample Questions for Determining “Unaccompanied” Youth Status Do you live with your parent/guardian? How often do you interact with your

parents/guardians? Do your parents/guardians financially support you in

any way? Do they pay any bills for you? How long have you been on your own? How long have you been supporting yourself?

Verification of Homeless Status FAA is NOT required to collect documentation from an

agency UNLESS there is conflicting informationo If verification needed, a documented phone call, or a written statement from one

of the authorized agency is sufficient

If FAA makes the determination, documentation must:o Demonstrate that the student’s living arrangements meet the FAFSA definitiono Include written documentation, when availableo Determination may be based on a documented interview with the student if

written documentation not available.

Disagreeing with a designated agencies determination is not considered “conflicting information”

Student’s Right to Contest Your Determination Make sure the student understands he can contest

your decision Student can provide supporting documents to be

reviewed collaboratively by:o School’s general counselo Financial Aid Director, ando A recognized MV practitioner

Student can also appeal to the Department

FAFSA and ISIR Submission NOT a dependency override Like a dependency override, you can rely on a

determination by another school CPS online or EDE:

o Select Homeless Youth Determination (option 4) in dependency override field

Paper FAFSA:o Fill in relevant bubble in the “College Use Only” box

Students who don’t fit the definition of youth (older than 21/not yet 24), but, meet the homeless definition, are processed as a DO

Case Studies

Strategies for Colleges and Universities Work to identify unaccompanied homeless

youth at your school.o Post information publicly in strategic locations

throughout campus.o Posters are available on the NAEHCY

Unaccompanied Youth Toolkits.o Create awareness of the issue among staff,

particularly those working in the area of financial aid, admissions, recruitment, and support for low-income students.

Strategies for Colleges and Universities Help youth connect with on-campus support services.

Establish a Single Point of Contact (SPOC) Refer unaccompanied students to student support services,

tutors, counselors, etc. upon admission, including programs for students coming out of foster care (needs often are similar).

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

Establish a food and clothing bank on campus. Establish a mentoring or peer program for unaccompanied

homeless youth.

Strategies for Colleges and Universities Give unaccompanied youth priority for on-campus jobs that

provide housing, such as Resident Advisor or Dorm Monitor. Give unaccompanied youth priority for other on-campus jobs,

such as work in the dining hall, bookstores or college tour guides. Plan housing for homeless students when dormitories close;

ideas include leaving one residence hall open or establishing a list of “host homes” in the community.

Give youth a list of contact addresses, websites and phone numbers for community services, and offer assistance in connecting with services such as health and mental health care and SNAP/Food Stamps.

Recruiting Strategies Network with your State Homeless Coordinator and

Homeless Education Liaisons in the school districts your institution typically recruits from.

State coordinator can connect you with local school district homeless liaisons

Train admission’s representatives Coordinate with Upward Bound and Trio Display posters on campus Reach out to shelters