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at Advocates for Children
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Accessing College for Students in Temporary Housing
Higher education is the key to helping students experiencing homeless escape poverty. There are several programs available through the federal Higher Education Act, such as the TRIO programs, that help students graduate from high school, apply and enroll in college, and complete their degrees. Also, homeless unaccompanied youth qualify as independent students on the Free Student Application for Financial Act (FAFSA), which makes it easier for them to get the financial aid they need to pursue post-secondary education. Below are links that more fully explain these resources as well as information about other sources of financial aid and scholarships.
Providing Effective Financial Aid Assistance to Students from Foster Care and Unaccompanied Youth: A Key to Higher Education Access and Success
Providing Effective Financial Aid Assistance to Students from Foster Care and Unaccompanied Youth: A Key to Higher Education Access and Success is a publication supported by Casey Family Programs, the Legal Center for Foster Care & Education, NAEHCY, and other organizations. It is a manual to assist college financial aid administrators to understand and apply the provisions in the College Cost and Reduction and Access Act of 2007 to include unaccompanied homeless youth and youth in the foster care system as independent students for the purposes of applying for federal financial aid. The publication includes an explanation of dependency status questions on the FAFSA form, an overview of the foster care system and of unaccompanied youth, and scenarios to help make appropriate determinations.
National Association of the Educational of Homeless Children and Youth: Information on Higher Education
This webpage includes information about programs available through the federal Higher Education Act and how homeless unaccompanied youth qualify as independent students on the FAFSA.
LeTendre Education Fund Scholarship Announcement and Application
This webpage describes the LeTendre Education Fund Scholarship that provides financial assistance to students pursuing a college education who are homeless or who have experienced homelessness.
National Center for Homeless Education: Access to Higher Education for Students Experiencing Homelessness
This webpage has a variety of information and links for students experiencing homelessness who wish to pursue post-secondary education.
ACT Fee Waiver Eligiblity Requirements and Procedures
This two-page brochure ACT describes the procedures that economically disadvantaged high school juniors or seniors should follow to receive a fee waiver for taking the ACT college entrance exam.
SAT Program Fee-Waiver Service
This webpage from the College Board explains how a high school junior and senior can receive a fee-waiver in order to take the SAT college entrance exam or SAT subject test, if paying the fee would posea barrier to the student's college entrance. It also discusses how a college-bound student can recive waivers for college application fees.
Scholarship Opportunities
A list of resources for College Scholarships, Fellowships, and other funding opportunities.