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NAEHCY PowerPoint Library - Unaccompanied Youth

SETTING THE CONTEXT

Higher education offers students experiencing homelessness the best hope for escaping poverty and homelessness as adults. The programs of the Higher Education Act (HEA) have the potential to assist these youth to graduate from high school, apply for and access postsecondary education, and complete their degrees. In addition, recent changes to the Free Student Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA) will make it easier for unaccompanied homeless youth to obtain the support they need to pursue their education. This page provides provides resources on laws, policies, and other materials relevant to higher education and homeless youth.

NAEHCY RESOURCES

Summary of Federal Guidance on FAFSA and Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

The U.S. Department of Education's "Application and Verification Guide" (AVG) provides instructions and guidance to financial aid administrators (FAAs) and counselors who help students fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The 2010-2011 edition of the AVG contains important new information regarding unaccompanied homeless youth (pp. 28-30). A summary is provided below. The entire guide may be downloaded here.
Download the summary.

FAFSA Tips for Unaccompanied Youth Without Stable Housing

This tip sheet provides a step-by-step guide to unaccompanied youth for filling out questions that refer to their status as an unaccompanied youth without stable housing. Guidance is given for filling out the online or paper version of the FAFSA. A list of additional resources is also included.
Download the tip sheet.

Helping Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Access College Financial Aid

This brief provides information on helping unaccompanied youth access financial aid for college. It includes information on the provisions of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 that make it easier for unaccompanied youth to apply for federal financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Download the brief.

Higher Education Act Reauthorization: Homeless and Foster Youth

This two-page brief summarizes the amendments designed to increase homeless and foster students? access to postsecondary education contained in the Higher Education Opportunity Act, reauthorized in August 2008.
Download the brief.

Income Tax and the FAFSA for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

This two-page brief answers various questions about the relationship between the filing of tax returns and a youth's completion of the FAFSA. Questions answered include: How does a youth?s decision to file a tax return affect the FAFSA?; Are youth required to file tax returns?, and; What should an unaccompanied youth do if his/her parents claim him/her as a dependent on their tax returns?.
Download the brief.

Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Verification For the Purposes of Federal Financial Aid

This template provides local homeless education liaisons, HUD-funded shelter representatives, and RHYA-funded shelter representatives with a sample form for verifying a student's status as an unaccompanied homeless youth for the purpose of applying for federal financial aid for higher education using the FAFSA.
Download the template.

OTHER RESOURCES

National Center for Homeless Education: Access to Higher Education for Students Experiencing Homelessness

The National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) serves as the information and technical assistance center for the U.S. Department of Education's Education for Homeless Children and Youth program.
Visit NCHE's Access to Higher Education for Students Experiencing Homelessness page .