READY FOR THE FAFSA? Supporting Youth Who Are “Homeless” in Colleges and Universities

1. For almost all of my life, I have never had a place to call home. I have questioned why I have to struggle so hard to succeed while others do not have to question whether they will go to college. However, there is one thing I have never questioned: My education. Khadijah Williams, Harvard University Class of 2014 For Financial Aid Administrators READY FOR THE FAFSA?Supporting Youth Who Are “Homeless” in Colleges and Universities

2. Our Agenda • Basic overview of the McKinney-Vento Act • What about unaccompanied homeless youth? • Unaccompanied homeless youth and the FAFSA • How Financial Aid Administrators and college staff can support unaccompanied youth in high school and beyond • MV-FAFSA Week “Get Your Ticket to Your Future!”

3. Getting Started… Do you know what a McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Liaison is? Do you know where to find a list of your local school district liaisons? Do you network with homeless liaisons in your local school districts? Poll

4. The McKinney-Vento Act and Liaisons The McKinney-Vento Act Federal education law (NCLB Title X, Part C) 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 Liaison. The key to McKinney-Vento Act implementation. Ensures identification, enrollment, transportation, services, dispute resolution, and awareness.

5. State education agencies have MV State Coordinators who oversee implementation and ensure compliance. Contact information available at center.serve.org/states/state_resources.php Local education agencies have MV Liaisons. LEAs must provide homeless students with immediate enrollment (even if lacking documents), full participation and school stability (ability to remain in “school of origin” and receive transportation). More information available at www.naehcy.org Basic McKinney-Vento Act overview

6. Who is Considered “Homeless”by the McKinney-Vento Act? • 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 • 71% of identified homeless students • Where would you go if you couldn’t stay here? • What led you to move in to this situation?

7. Who is Considered “Homeless”? (cont.) • Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping grounds due to lack of adequate alternative accommodations [Motels: 5% of identified homeless students] • Living in emergency or transitional shelters [19% of identified homeless students] • 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 similar settings

8. Migratory children living in above circumstances Awaiting foster care placement Less applicable for higher education issues due to the CCRAA’s provision that students in foster care at age 13 or older are considered independent students Unaccompanied youth in any of these living situations Who is Considered “Homeless”? (cont.)

9. 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 Why is the Definition so Broad?

10. Case-by-case eligibility determinations NCHE’s “Determining Eligibility” brief, available at: center.serve.org/nche/downloads/briefs/det_elig.pdf Get as much information as possible. Sensitivity: Avoid the word “homeless”. Consult with a MV liaison. Strategies for identification and verification are available in NAEHCY’s Unaccompanied Youth Toolkit Determining Eligibility

11. Checking in… Poll Do you know how many youth are experiencing homelessness in your school or community?

12. How many children and youth experience homelessness? • 10-20% of all children and youth living in poverty experience homelessness over the course of a year. • Nationwide, 939,903 homeless students identified by public schools in the 2009-10 school year. • An increase of 38% since 2006-07 (start of the economic downturn).

13. What aboutunaccompanied youth? Youth who are experiencing homelessness and not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. No upper or lower age limit– must be eligible for public education in the state. Nearly one in five youth run away from home before turning 18; 30% of them run three times or more. School districts with McKinney-Vento funds (fewer than one in five) identified 65,317 unaccompanied youth; a 51% increase over three years.

14. What causes homelessnessamong unaccompanied youth? • Family dysfunction • Conflict with step-parents • Conflict over youth’s sexual orientation: 20-40% of unaccompanied youth identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (compared to 3-5% of adults). • Conflict over youth’s pregnancy. • 48% of street youth have been pregnant or impregnated someone. • 10% of currently homeless female teenagers are pregnant.

15. What causes homelessnessamong unaccompanied youth? (cont) • Family violence • Studies have found that 20-40% of unaccompanied youth were sexually abused in their homes, while 40-60% were physically abused. • Over two-thirds of callers to Runaway Hotline report that at least one of their parents abuses drugs or alcohol. • 21 – 53% of homeless youth have a history of out-of-home care through the child welfare system.

16. What causes homelessnessamong unaccompanied youth? (cont) • Loss of parents • Incarceration, illness, death • Forced separation • Lack of space in temporary accommodations • Shelter policies that prohibit adolescent boys • Family cannot afford to care for older youth

17. “But the studentchose to leave home…” • McKinney-Vento eligibility is based on where the youth is currently living : Is it fixed, regular and adequate? • A youth can be eligible regardless of whether he/she was asked to leave the home or “chose” to leave • Often, there is “more than meets the eye” in a youth’s home life. • Are there reasons a youth might not want to reveal the truth about his/her home situation? • Are there reasons a parent might not want to reveal the truth about the home situation?

18. Scenario: Jeremy Jeremy is a 19 year old college sophomore. He was kicked out of his house over the summer. He’d had problems getting along with his stepmom for some time and the level of conflict had gotten out of control. He went to live with his friend, Kevin, but Kevin’s parents said Jeremy can only stay there for a month or so. • According to McKinney-Vento, is Jeremy an unaccompanied homeless youth? • Other questions?

19. Unaccompanied homeless youth, and self-supporting youth at risk of homelessness, are automatically independent students for the FAFSA. Established by the CCRAA. They do not have to provide a parental signature or parental income information. Unaccompanied Homeless Youth and the FAFSA

20. Definitions • Unaccompanied and homeless: Same as McKinney-Vento Act definition. • Includes a student living in the dorms if s/he would otherwise be homeless. • Includes a homeless student fleeing an abusive parent, even if the parent would provide housing. • At risk of homelessness: When a student’s housing may cease to be fixed, regular, and adequate. • Youth: 21 years old or younger.

21. Verification • Status must be verified in the school year when the application is submitted, by: • MV liaison, • RHYA-funded shelter or transitional living program director or designee, • HUD-funded shelter or transitional living program director or designee, OR • College Financial Aid Administrator (FAA)

22. HUD and RHYA Basics • HUD = The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development • Provides funding to local communities through an annual competitive process for providing supportive housing to people experiencing homelessness (e.g. emergency shelter and transitional housing). • RHYA = The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act • Provides funding to local agencies for providing housing specifically for unaccompanied homeless youth (street outreach, basic centers, and transitional living programs).

23. Independent Status for Unaccompanied Youth (cont.) • The FAFSA contains 3 questions specifically about unaccompanied youth. • One for those verified by MV liaison; one for those verified by RHYA providers; one for those verified by HUD providers • For students without a verification: • The College FAA must make a determination. • Homeless or at-risk/self-supporting students age 22 or 23 are eligible for a dependency override.

24. The Role of the FAA • According to the Application and Verification Guide, if a student does not have, and cannot get, documentation from a MV 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”. • Except for homeless or at-risk/self-supporting students age 22 or 23: they should be processed as dependency overrides. • 2012-2013 will resolve this inconsistency for 22-23 yos.

25. 2011-2012 AVG • Provides guidance on verification by FAAs • Verification is not required unless there is conflicting information. • Permits a FAA to verify the status with a documented interview. • Permits FAAs to accept verification from recognized third-parties such as other homeless shelters and service providers, FAAs from another college, college access programs such as TRIO and GEAR UP, college or high school counselors, other mental health professionals, social workers, mentors, doctors, and clergy. • Encourages discretion and sensitivity when gathering information • Some information may be confidential (e.g. protected by doctor-patient privilege) • Child welfare and police reports are not necessary • Recommends consulting with MV liaisons, State Coordinators, and NCHE. • Eligibility determinations may be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education

26. How Is It Working?2009-2010 Data • Total Number of Applicants for Independent Status – 8,807,210 • Total Number of  Applicants who indicated a homeless circumstance – 32,232 (.38% of total independent applicants) • Determined by MV Liaison: 10,549 applicants • Determined by HUD provider: 5,219 applicants • Determined by RHYA provider: 10,238 applicants

27. How Is It Working?2010-2011 Data • Total Number of Applicants for Independent Status – 12,149,074 • Total Number of  Applicants who indicated a homeless circumstance – 33,039 (.27% of total independent applicants) • Determined by MV Liaison: 13,789 applicants • Determined by HUD provider: 9,991 applicants • Determined by RHYA provider: 5,659 applicants

28. How Is It Working?2011-2012 Data (through Aug. 31, 2011) • Total Number of Applicants for Independent Status – 10,028,391 • Total Number of  Applicants who indicated a homeless circumstance – 22,296 (.22% of total independent applicants) • Determined by MV Liaison: 13,267 applicants • Determined by HUD provider: 4,679 applicants • Determined by RHYA provider: 3,664 applicants

29. Scenario: Amber Amber had to leave home the summer before her senior year in high school, when her mom was incarcerated. Amber’s father has never been a part of her life. Amber has been staying with different relatives since then, but none has been willing to assume legal guardianship or provide financial support. She’s now starting to apply for colleges and is concerned about having enough money to attend.She doesn’t think she ever met a homeless liaison in her high school. • According to McKinney-Vento, is Amber an unaccompanied homeless youth? • How could you help Amber get financial aid for college?

30. How can colleges and universities support unaccompanied youth in high school and beyond? Institutions of higher education first and foremost are educational agencies. Their primary responsibility and goal is to enroll and educate in accordance with federal law, which supersedes state and local law They do not need to understand and/or agree with all aspects of a student’s home life to educate him/her and comply with federal educational mandates. Let’s Get Practical.

31. Contact your local school district MV liaison, high schools or MV State Coordinator. What efforts are already underway to support homeless students in school districts you work with? How can you participate? Strategies for Colleges and Universities

32. Work to identify unaccompanied homeless youth at your school. Post information publicly in strategic locations throughout campus. Posters are available in our NAEHCY Unaccompanied Youth Toolkits. 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

33. Create a process for verification that is sensitive to the unique needs of these youth. Conduct the interview within the same day of their college/university visits if at all possible. Do not interview the youth in front of others. If they do not have paperwork, work with them. Let them use resources that may not be readily available to them, such as the phone or fax machine. More verification strategies and tools are available as part of NAEHCY’s Unaccompanied Youth Toolkit. Strategies for Colleges and Universities

34. Help youth connect with on-campus support services. 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 program for unaccompanied homeless youth. Strategies for Colleges and Universities

35. Help youth connect with housing, employment, and community services. 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. Strategies for Colleges and Universities

36. Create a network. Convene a meeting with local stakeholders from the McKinney-Vento K-12 and Higher Education communities. Share knowledge about your area of expertise. Higher Ed: Financial aid MV Liaisons: McKinney-Vento definition and community resources for homelessness Build an action plan for serving unaccompanied homeless youth that makes sense for your community. Examples of networks: Colorado, Michigan, North Carolina Strategies for Colleges and Universities

37. What will be your first steps to support unaccompanied youth in your college or university this semester? Check out NAEHCY’s Unaccompanied Youth Toolkit for FAAs, for more tools and resources, at www.naehcy.org. How Will You Get Started?

38. National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) http://www.naehcy.org http://www.naehcy.org/higher_ed.html http://www.naehcy.org/letendre_ab.html National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) http://www.nasfaa.org For support and information

39. National Center for Homeless Education http://center.serve.org/nche/ibt/higher_ed.php http://center.serve.org/nche/best/higher_ed.php 800-308-2145 or homeless@serve.org College Goal Sundayhttp://www.collegegoalsundayusa.org/ Office of Postsecondary Educationhttp://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/index.html Runaway Switchboard http://www.1800runaway.org For support and information (cont.)