Working with Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Tori Weigant West Chester University

Working with Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

Tori WeigantWest Chester University

WHY is it important for FAAs to have a Policy and Procedure for working

with UHY students?

WE have the power to help: A determination of being homeless is NOT a dependency override or a case of professional judgment. Students should understand that they are able to contest an eligibility determination by a financial aid administrator.FSA HB Jan 2013 AVG-119

WHY is it important for FAAs to have a Policy and Procedure for working

with UHY students?

S.1754 - Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act: Sen. Murray, Patty (D-WA); Sen. Landrieu, Mary (D-LA); Sen. Baldwin, Tammy (D-WI); Sen Klobuchar, Amy (D-MN).

Requires postsecondary schools participating in programs under title IV (Student Assistance) of the HEA to:

• designate a staff person as a single point of contact to assist homeless and foster care youth in accessing and completing postsecondary education;

• post public notice about the assistance available to those youth, including their eligibility as independent students;

• have a plan for how those youth can access housing resources during and between academic terms; and

• include questions in their admissions application regarding the applicant's status as a homeless or foster care youth.

• Requires institutions of higher education receiving grants for work-study programs to prioritize employment for students who are currently or formerly homeless or foster care youth.

Source: https://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/1754

WHY is it important for FAAs to have a Policy and Procedure for working

with UHY students?

In 2012-13, a unique count of 22,618 children or youth were identified and reported as experiencing homelessness and receiving direct or indirect services from the ECYEH Program, of which 19,459 were also identified as enrolled in school. (Source: Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program 2012-13 State Evaluation Report Jan 2014)

22,618

Sheldon Winnick State CoordinatorDepartment of Education l Bureau of Curriculum, Assessment and InstructionPhone: 717-772-2066

WHY is it important for FAAs to have a Policy and Procedure for working with

UHY students?

WHO qualifies to be considered an unaccompanied homeless youth?

Verification not requiredYou are not required to verify the answers to the homeless youth questions unless you have conflicting information. A documented phone call with, or a written statement from, one of the relevant authorities is sufficient verification when needed. FSA HB JAN 2013 AVG - 120

College Cost Reduction Act of 2007 CCRAA expanded the definition of “independent student” to include UHY.

WHO qualifies to be considered an unaccompanied homeless youth?

Homeless youth definitionsAt risk of being homeless—whena student’s housing may cease to befixed, regular, and adequate, for example,a student who is being evicted andhas been unable to find fixed, regular,and adequate housing.Homeless—lacking fixed, regular, andadequate housing.Self-supporting—when a student paysfor his own living expenses, includingfixed, regular, and adequate housing.Unaccompanied—when a student isnot living in the physical custody of aparent or guardian.Youth—a student who is 21 yearsold or younger or still enrolled in highschool as of the date he signs the application.

FSA HB JAN 2013 AV- 120

WHO qualifies to be considered an unaccompanied homeless youth?

Q: How does a youth indicate homelessness on the FAFSA?A: The FAFSA contains three questions that ask specifically about homelessness. Those questions are: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?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 (HUD) determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?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

Challenge: What if a student didn’t tell high school or live in a shelter? They will tend to answer “no” even though they do qualify.

HOW can we identify and determine a student is an unaccompanied homeless

youth?

HOW can we identify and determine a student is an unaccompanied

homeless youth?

WHAT is a SPOC and why do we need one?

Single Point of Contact (SPOC)- a supportive college administrator on each campus who is committed to helping homeless youth (and often foster youth) successfully navigate the college-going process on campuses. (Source: NASFAA 2014: Keys to Success: Providing Services to Support Homeless Youth).

SPOCs can be found in the Financial Aid, Counseling, Dean of Students, and Student Support Services offices.

WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY Case Study

• Constructed a policy and procedure for reviewing cases that do not have supporting documentation

• Built separate section of our website: UHY webpage

• Designated Single Point of Contact (SPOC)

• Build Community Partnerships • West Chester Food Cupboard• Safe Harbor Shelter

• Organized Campus UHY Committee• Residence Life• Admissions• Office of Multicultural Affairs• Counseling Department

Where can I find more information and helpful tools?

Cyekeia [email protected]

National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth

Christina [email protected]

National Center for Homeless Education

Group Discussion