Many of our helpline calls involve students in temporary housing that are considered Unaccompanied Homeless Youth (UHY). Often, these students face barriers as they are not living with a parent or guardian.
The Tale
A high school teacher called the NYS TEACHS Helpline to advocate for an Unaccompanied Homeless Youth (UHY). The UHY contacted the McKinney-Vento District Liaison to ask for help completing the FAFSA to qualify for financial aid. The liaison referred the UHY to the guidance counselor because they were unfamiliar with completing the FAFSA accurately, especially for an independent student. The guidance counselor, however, did not get in touch with the student to provide the necessary help. The high school teacher called to find out how to best advocate for the Unaccompanied Homeless Youth.
We have a new resource to help you with this!
In addition to the MV Liaison UHY Chart, additional resources are linked in the answers below.
Questions to Consider:
1) What is the definition of a UHY?
2) Who is responsible for supporting the Unaccompanied Homeless Youth/McKinney-Vento student in preparing for higher education and completing the FAFSA?
3) If the McKinney-Vento District Liaison does not know how to complete the FAFSA or the college paperwork, what should they do?
4) If the student is considered a UHY, how do you fill out the guardianship portion of the FAFSA?
Answers
1) An unaccompanied youth (UHY) is a student who is not in the physical custody of their parent or legal guardian; this includes young people who have run away from home, have been kicked out of their homes, or have been abandoned by parents. There is no age limit for unaccompanied youth, but these students are most often in their teens. Unaccompanied youth are protected under the McKinney-Vento Act when the student also does not have a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.
2) LEA homeless liaisons must ensure that Unaccompanied Homeless Youths are informed of their status as independent students for college financial aid and can obtain assistance to receive verification for the FAFSA. The liaison should identify and remove barriers that prevent the youth from receiving credit for full or partial coursework, satisfactorily completed at a prior school, by State, local, and school policies. They should also provide counselor assistance to advise the youth and improve student readiness for college.
LEA District homeless liaisons should inform unaccompanied youth of their status as independent students when completing the FAFSA for college financial aid.
In addition, the MV liaison should:
Make sure students take the ACT/SAT exam.
Make sure students complete (and/or have support in completing) the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Meet with students experiencing homelessness frequently, especially during senior year, to answer questions, serve as a resource, and remind them of deadlines; create a checklist to review each time to keep them on track.
Help with navigating college applications and financial aid systems.
Sometimes students do not spend their funds well when they receive their financial aid, and it would be helpful for you to assist the students in understanding how to manage their money.
UHYs often say that they credit one person, such as the local liaison or a school counselor, as the person who helped them the most get through school.
New Postsecondary Financial Aid Form Completion Initiative Requirements
The Office of Postsecondary Access, Support, and Success Verification of Postsecondary Financial Aid Form or Waiver memo outlines requirements related to a new postsecondary financial aid form completion initiative as enacted in the 2024-25 Enacted State Budget (Part C of Chapter 56 of the Laws of 2024).
The new law, effective August 15, 2024, requires that each school district shall ensure verification from the parent or guardian of a student who is a senior (or from the student where the student is 18 years of age or older or legally emancipated) that the student either:
(1) complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or, if applicable, the Jose Peralta New York State Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act application;
or (2) complete this Waiver Form indicating that the parent or guardian (or student, as applicable), understands the nature of the FAFSA or, if applicable, the DREAM Act application and has chosen not to file such application.
School districts must also notify each high school senior enrolled in such school district, no less than two times during each school year, of all state-sponsored scholarships, financial aid, and assistance available to students attending college or post-secondary education. Additionally, school districts must provide referrals for support or assistance to complete the FAFSA or, if applicable, the DREAM Act application.
3) If the McKinney-Vento liaison does not know the specifics of completing the FAFSA, it is recommended that they reach out to the school counselor, along with the student, and attend a meeting together. The liaison can learn from the school counselor as all three work together to prepare the FAFSA and application documents.
A national study found that about 30% of students failed to complete the FAFSA, and that one-third of those students would have been eligible to receive federal Pell Grants (Page, L.C. & Clayton-Scott, J, 2015).
4) If a student is a UHY, the student would be considered “independent” on the FAFSA form. Entities who are authorized to make determinations of unaccompanied homeless youth status, or unaccompanied youth who are self-supporting and at risk of homelessness:
A local educational agency homeless liaison (or designee), as designated by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii)).
The director (or designee) of an emergency or transitional shelter, street outreach program, homeless youth drop-in center, or other program serving individuals who are experiencing homelessness.
The director (or designee) of a Federal TRIO program or a Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate program (GEAR UP) grant.
A financial aid administrator at another institution who documented the student’s circumstance in the same or a prior award year.
If the student continues to meet the legal definition of UHY, the McKinney-Vento liaison can write a determination letter to the student’s college financial aid office. Financial aid administrators are required to accept this letter unless they have conflicting information.
Homeless or foster care status does not need to be redetermined every year. Under the FAFSA Simplification Act, any student who is determined to be an unaccompanied homeless youth or a former foster youth, for a preceding award year is presumed to be independent for each subsequent year at the same institution, unless the student informs the institution that circumstances have changed, or the institution has specific conflicting information about the student’s independence and has informed the student of this information. According to guidance issued by ED in April 2023, renewal applicants who had their 2023-24 FAFSA form processed as an independent student due to a homeless youth determination are eligible to have their status carried forward if their circumstances remain unchanged and they are enrolled at the same institution for 2024-25. While schools may ask students if their homeless situation has changed, they may not maintain a practice that delays or hinders the awarding and/or disbursement of federal student aid, nor require them to submit additional documentation unless there is conflicting information that the institution needs to resolve.
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