For almost all of my life, I have never had a place to call home. I have questioned why I have to struggle so hard to succeed while others do not have

For almost all of my life, I have never had a place to call home. I have questioned why I have to struggle so hard to succeed while others do

not have to question whether they will go to college. However, there is one thing I have never questioned: My education.

Khadijah Williams, Harvard University Class of 20141

For Shelters and Service Providers

Who are unaccompanied homeless youth and how can we identify them?

Brief overview of the McKinney-Vento ActUnaccompanied homeless youth and the FAFSAHow shelters and service providers can support

unaccompanied youth in high school and beyondMV-FAFSA Week “Get Your Ticket to Your Future.”

Poll• Do you know what a McKinney-Vento Homeless

Education Liaison is?• Do you know where to find a list of your local school

district liaisons?• Do you network with homeless liaisons in your local

school districts?

The McKinney-Vento Act Federal education law (NCLB Title X, Part C)

Designed to ensure school access and promote school success for children and youth who are considered “homeless”.

Every school district must designate a McKinney-Vento Liaison. The key to McKinney-Vento Act implementation. Ensures identification, enrollment, transportation,

services, dispute resolution, and awareness.

Youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including:Sharing the housing of others due to loss of

housing, economic hardship, or similar reason 71% of identified homeless students Where would you go if you couldn’t stay here? What led you to move in to this situation?

Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping grounds due to lack of adequate alternative accommodations[Motels: 5% of identified homeless students]

Living in emergency or transitional shelters[19% of identified homeless students]

Living in a public or private place not designed for humans to live

Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings

Migratory children living in above circumstances

Awaiting foster care placement Determined based on state and/or local policy Check with your MV liaison or State Coordinator for

guidanceThis definition may be different from what your

agency uses, but it is the federal legal definition for public schools, colleges and universities.

Shelters and other youth service providers are critical members of the team to identify and serve homeless students!

Case-by-case eligibility determinations NCHE’s “Determining Eligibility” brief, available at:

www.serve.org/nche/downloads/briefs/det_elig.pdfGet as much information as possible.

Sensitivity: Avoid the word “homeless”.Consult with a MV liaison.

Poll

Do you know how many youth are experiencing homelessness in your school or community?

10-20% of all children and youth living in poverty experience homelessness over the course of a year.

Nationwide, 939,903 homeless students identified by public schools in the 2009-10 school year.

An increase of 38% since 2006-07 (start of the economic downturn).

School districts with McKinney-Vento funds (fewer than one in five) identified 65,317 unaccompanied youth; a 51% increase over three years.

Lack of affordable housing Foreclosures

Poverty Economic recession Unemployment

Health problemsDomestic violenceNatural and other disasters

Youth who are experiencing homelessness and not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.

No upper or lower age limit– must be eligible for public education in the state.

Nearly one in five youth run away from home before turning 18; 30% of them run three times or more.

Family dysfunction Conflict with step-parents Conflict over youth’s sexual orientation: 20-40% of

unaccompanied youth identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (compared to 3-5% of adults).

Conflict over youth’s pregnancy. 48% of street youth have been pregnant or impregnated

someone. 10% of currently homeless female teenagers are

pregnant.

Family violence Studies have found that 20-40% of unaccompanied

youth were sexually abused in their homes, while 40-60% were physically abused.

Over two-thirds of callers to Runaway Hotline report that at least one of their parents abuses drugs or alcohol.

21 – 53% of homeless youth have a history of out-of-home care through the child welfare system.

Loss of parents Incarceration, illness, death

Forced separation Lack of space in temporary accommodations Shelter policies that prohibit adolescent boys Family cannot afford to care for older youth

McKinney-Vento eligibility is based on where the youth is currently living : Is it fixed, regular and adequate?

A youth can be eligible regardless of whether he/she was asked to leave the home or “chose” to leave

Often, there is “more than meets the eye” in a youth’s home life. Are there reasons a youth might not want to reveal the

truth about his/her home situation? Are there reasons a parent might not want to reveal the

truth about the home situation?

Jeremy was kicked out of his house in his junior year of high school. He’d had problems getting along with his stepmom for some time and the level of conflict had gotten out of control. He went to live with his friend, Kevin, but Kevin’s parents said Jeremy can only stay there until the end of the semester.

According to McKinney-Vento, is Jeremy an unaccompanied homeless youth?Other questions?

Liaisons ✓Eligibility ✓School stabilitySchool enrollmentSupport for success

Demonstration project in WA showed that school stability for homeless students increased assessment scores and grades.

Mobility also hurts non-mobile students; study found average test scores for non-mobile students were significantly lower in high schools with high student mobility rates.

Mobility lowers graduation rates significantly, even controlling for other factors.

Students can remain in their school of origin while homeless, despite moves.

After they find permanent housing, students can complete the school year in their school of origin.

Remaining in the school of origin is based on the student’s best interest. An individualized assessment, with the parents and/or

youth, considering academic needs, mobility, time of year, safety, age, placement of siblings, impact of commute on education.

The school district(s) must provide or arrange transportation to the school of origin. If crossing district lines, the 2 districts share the

cost and responsibility. School bus, gas vouchers, public transportation,

other appropriate arrangements

Children and youth who are homeless must be enrolled immediately in any school open to other children living in the same neighborhood.

Immediate enrollment includes attending classes and participating fully in all school activities (including sports and clubs) If students miss deadlines, do not meet residency

requirements or cannot pay fees due to homelessness, those deadlines, requirements and fees must be waived.

Immediate enrollment in school applies even if the student is lacking school records, immunizations, or other documents.

Immediate enrollment in school applies even if no parent or guardian is present. If you do not know how youth can enroll in your

school without a parent or guardian, ask your MV liaison.

The McKinney-Vento Act supersedes any conflicting state or local policies.

Students experiencing homelessness are automatically eligible for free school meals.

Students experiencing homelessness are automatically eligible for Title IA services. Regardless of what school they attend.

School districts must reserve a portion of Title IA funds to serve homeless youth.

Georgetown University Study: By 2018 only a third of all jobs will be available to high school graduates or dropouts.

Education largely determines income: Bachelor’s: average $49,435/year HS graduate: average $26,001/year

Do you know someone who overcame poverty or homelessness to attend college?

Are you ready for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid?

Families are expected to contribute to higher education costs.

For dependent students, filling out the FAFSA requires income and asset information for both the student and the parent, and a parent signature.

For independent students, no parental signature or income and asset information is needed.

Unaccompanied homeless youth and self-supporting youth at risk of homelessness are automatically considered independent students. They can apply for aid without parental signature or

consideration of parental income. Status must be verified in the school year when the

application is submitted, by: MV liaison, RHYA-funded shelter director or designee, HUD-funded shelter director or designee, OR College Financial Aid Administrator (FAA)

“Unaccompanied homeless youth” for the FAFSA uses the McKinney-Vento definition. Includes a homeless student fleeing an abusive

parent, even if the parent would provide housing and support.

“At risk of homelessness”: when a student’s housing may cease to be fixed, regular, and adequate.

The FAFSA contains 3 questions specifically about unaccompanied youth. One for those verified by MV liaison; one for those verified

by RHYA shelters; one for those verified by HUD sheltersFor students without a verification:

Check “yes” to the question indicating where they can get a verification and contact that party to seek a verification.

Seek a determination by the college FAA.Sample verification letters are available at

http://www.naehcy.org/higher_ed.html

Total Number of Applicants for Independent Status - 19,490,665

Total Number of Applicants who indicated a homeless circumstance - 47,204 (.24% of total independent applicants) Determined by MV Liaison: 16,331 applicants Determined by HUD provider: 12,288 applicants Determined by RHYA provider: 18,390 applicants

Amber had to leave home the summer before her senior year in high school, when her mom was incarcerated. Amber’s father has never been a part of her life. Amber has been staying with different relatives since then, but none has been willing to assume legal guardianship or provide financial support. She’s now starting to apply for colleges and is concerned about having enough money to attend. She doesn’t think she ever met a homeless liaison in her high school.According to McKinney-Vento, is Amber an unaccompanied homeless youth?How could you help Amber graduate from high school and get financial aid for college?

How shelters and service providers can support unaccompanied youth in high school and beyond.

Contact your local high schools or state Homeless Education Coordinator.What efforts are already underway to

support homeless students in high schools you work with?

Network with local homeless education liaisons.

How can you participate?Can your local Continuum of Care

participate?

Strategies for Shelters and Strategies for Shelters and Service ProvidersService Providers

Put up a posters in your agency on McKinney-Vento rights and Higher Education.

Enlist youth to help spread the word. Provide training and awareness activities on

the education definition of homeless and students’ education rights for all case managers and outreach workers

Strategies for Shelters and Strategies for Shelters and Service Providers (cont.)Service Providers (cont.)

As a standard part of the intake process, provide parents and youth with information about the Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program and the unaccompanied youth exception to the FAFSA.

Designate one staff member as your education contact or advocate.


Help students cope with the physical stresses of homelessness. Provide a place for them to store belongings. Help them access showers and laundry facilities. Help arrange a quiet place for them to study and

rest before and after school.


Get in touch with other local agencies that may serve homeless youth. Shelters, drop-in centers, street outreach Soup kitchens, food banks Boys & Girls clubs Child welfare, law enforcement Teen parent programs Gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender youth organizations


Help youth make the most of high school. Position higher education as a realistic goal and

start planning early. Encourage and support participation in college

access programs (Upward Bound, Talent Search, GEAR UP, Early/Middle College High School, etc.).

Encourage and support participation in extra-curricular activities.

Assist with credit accrual and recovery.


Help youth prepare for college admissions. Help youth search for scholarships.

http://www.naehcy.org/letendre_ab.html Help youth with the FAFSA and financial planning

for college. SAT/ACT fee waivers Consider community college as a cost-effective

step toward a 4-year degree. Help youth advocate with FAAs, if necessary.


Coordinate or participate in a MV-FAFSA Week in your community.

“Get Your Ticket to Your Future!” Assist with the identification of McKinney-Vento

students. Ensure that homelessness will not keep youth out

of college. Ensure that ALL eligible students complete the

FAFSA as unaccompanied homeless youth.


Ready-made packets are available on NAEHCY’s “Unaccompanied Youth Toolkits” website Sample script for counselors Sample letters for seniors “FAFSA Tips for Shelters and Service Providers” tip sheet “McKinney-Vento ID Checklist” for shelters and service

providers Links to sample FAFSA verification letters and in-depth

information about independent students, homelessness, and the FAFSA

Implementation support from NCHE and NAEHCY

McKinney-Vento FAFSA Week

“Get Your Ticket to Your Future!”

What will be your first steps to support unaccompanied youth in your community?

National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY)

http://www.naehcy.org

http://www.naehcy.org/higher_ed.html

http://www.naehcy.org/letendre_ab.html

National Center for Homeless Educationhttp://center.serve.org/nche/ibt/higher_ed.php

http://center.serve.org/nche/best/higher_ed.php

800-308-2145 or [email protected]

College Goal Sundayhttp://www.collegegoalsundayusa.org/

Office of Postsecondary Educationhttp://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/index.html

Runaway Switchboard

http://www.1800runaway.org

Documents

For almost all of my life, I have never had a place to call home. I have questioned why I have to struggle so hard to succeed while others do not have