Being Their Advocate
Assisting Unaccompanied Homeless Youth
Presented by: Lori Auxier
Agenda
•Homeless youth statistics
•Application fees
•College entrance exam fees
•College application fees
•Seeking financial aid and scholarships
•FAFSA for accompanied homeless youth
•FAFSA for unaccompanied homeless youth
•Florida fee exemptions
•Ideas for creating a local network
Homeless Youth Statistics
•1.3 million homeless youth
•75 percent have dropped or will drop out of school
•46 percent reported physical abuse
•38 percent reported emotional abuse
•16 percent reported sexual abuse
•5 percent die each year as a result of assault, illness orsuicide
•Youth ages 12-17 are more at risk of becominghomeless than adults
Homeless Youth Statistics
•Anyone who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequatenighttime residence—
•Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing,economic hardship, or similar reason
•Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping groundsdue to lack of adequate alternative accommodations
•Living in emergency or transitional shelters
•Abandoned in hospitals
Raise Your Hands
•What do you consider your current knowledge levelto be regarding college access for homelessstudents?
•Expert
•Average
•Beginner
•I need help!
College Admissions Checklist
•Take college entrance exams
•SAT, ACT
•Utilize fee waiver programs
•Complete and submit college applications
•Utilize fee waiver programs
•Complete and submit the FAFSA
•Access additional resources
Raise Your Hands
•Describe your experience working withunaccompanied homeless youth (UHY) to accessfederal financial aid
•Successful experience
•Painful experience
•No experience
•What’s a UHY?
FAFSA Basics
Dependent Versus Independent
•Accompanied homeless youth = dependent
•Unaccompanied homeless youth = independent
UHY Determiners
•Local homeless education liaison
•U.S. Department of Housing and UrbanDevelopment (HUD) shelter director or designee
•Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) shelterdirector or designee
•Financial Aid Administrator (FAA)
UHY Verification Form
2014-15 Application & Verification Guide
•UHY can use college’s administrative address aspermanent mailing address
•Youth = 21 or younger or still enrolled in highschool on the date he/she signs the FAFSA
•Ages 22-23 = need a dependency override forindependent status
•Age 24 or older = independent status
Role Of The FAA Per The AVG
•If a student does not have, and cannot get, adetermination from a local liaison, RHYA provider,or HUD provider, a financial aid administrator mustmake a determination of unaccompanied homelessyouth status
•If not UHY, professional judgment may be appropriate
FAA Determination Of Student Status
•Use discretion and sensitivity
•Some information may be confidential (doctor/patientprivilege)
•Child welfare or law enforcement documentation maynot be available
•Consult with others, if needed
•Notify student of appeal process, if needed
Working Together On Campus
•Identify a safe single point of contact at eachpostsecondary institution
•Can centrally store personal documentation
•Can develop streamlined approach for other campusservices
•Can create annual single verification form
Additional Resources
•2014/15 Application and Verification Guide (AVG)
•College Access and Success for Students ExperiencingHomelessness Toolkit
•State Homeless Education Program
•School District Liaisons
•Check district website
Florida Fee Exemption
•Per section 1009.25, Florida Statutes, certainstudents are exempt from the payment of tuitionand fees, including lab fees, at a school district thatprovides postsecondary career programs, FloridaCollege System institution, or state university.
Florida Fee Exemption
•To qualify, students must provide documentation
•Institution may require additional documentation
•Homeless definition for fee exemption differs fromFAFSA definition
•Student may qualify for one and not the other
Local Network Example
•Santa Rosa County
•2010/11 – created partnership between NorthwestFlorida State College, Pensacola State College andUniversity of West Florida
•2011/12 – Completed the following action items:
•Facilitated College Day Field Trips for Juniors & Seniors
•District Homeless Liaisons worked with students to completethe FAFSA, scholarship applications and college applications
•Staff worked with HS Counselor to monitor progress
•Via Challenge Grant, supplied students with supplies (i.e.,laptop, calculators, etc.)
Another Local Network Success!
•Polk County
•Polk State College hosted a College Day
•Provided breakfast and lunch
•Worked with the Hearth Project to provide transportation
•Provided campus tour
• Met with both Admissions and Financial Aid staff
•Completed college application and began financial aid process
Another Local Network Success!
•Polk County
•My Brother’s Keeper
•Hearth Project
•Assisted Polk State College in creating a college version
•Partnered with the Red Cross for free lifeguard training
•Provides access to other resources
Raise Your Hands
•What is your most valuable “take-home” pointfrom today’s session?
•FAFSA information
•ACT/Sat and college admission waivers
•Florida tuition/fee exemptions
•Information about local networking
•All of the above
Save The Date
May 24-27, 2016
2016 FASFAA Conference
Hyatt Regency, Coconut Point Resort & Spa
Bonita Springs, Florida
