There are many resources available to youth experiencing homelessness to assist them with gaining access to colleges and universities. If you are a student experiencing homelessness and seeking guidance about how to pursue postsecondary opportunities, make sure to reach out to your local McKinney-Vento liaison who can help guide you in this process.
Resources
- SchoolHouse Connection provides resources, information on law and policy, and research and data on youth experiencing homelessness and higher education.
- The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) works to remove barriers to financial aid for college-seeking high school students experiencing homelessness.
- Education Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) publishes the Opportunities Guide and Workbook, which is designed to help high school students choose the right college, understand admission requirements, identify types of financial aid and more (ECMC, 2024).
- The National College Attainment Network (NCAN) supports members and influences leaders, organizations, policies, and systems across the country to increase equity and excellence in postsecondary degree access and attainment (NCAN, 2023).
- National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) works to ensure that all qualified students have access to postsecondary education, no matter their socioeconomic background (NASFAA, n.d.).
FAFSA & Federal Student Aid
- Resources for Completing the FAFSA – SchoolHouse Connection
- Applying for Virginia State Financial Aid
- There are two options in applying for financial aid: FAFSA and VASA. Deciding which application to complete and links to the application are found at LevelupVirginia.org.
- United States citizens and eligible noncitizens should complete the FAFSA to apply for federal, state and institutional financial aid.
- Virginians who have certain nonimmigrant visas, are undocumented, have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status or are otherwise ineligible to file a FAFSA should complete the VASA.
Independent Status & Unaccompanied Homeless Youth
If you meet the McKinney-Vento definition of unaccompanied homeless youth as determined by your local McKinney-Vento liaison, you qualify as an independent student and do not need to provide parent information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Your local McKinney-Vento liaison can provide you with a homeless youth determination.
- Sample Notification Letter of Independent Status for UHY
- Tip Sheet for Completing the FAFSA – Tips for unaccompanied homeless youth
- Federal Student Aid – FAFSA tips for unaccompanied homeless youth
Scholarships for Students Experiencing Homelessness
- The SchoolHouse Connection Youth Leadership and Scholarship Program is one of the nation’s only national scholarship programs specifically serving youth that have experienced homelessness (Schoolhouse Connection, 2022).
- The NAEHCY Scholarship program a) promotes and provides financial support for post-secondary education; b) assures that youth have the information necessary to make sound financial decisions; c) leads a collaborative network of community and educational partners aligned to support student preparation, transition, and progression towards degree completion; and d) develops a scholar association to provide mentoring and support to scholars throughout their college career; as well as transitioning into the workforce (NAEHCY, 2024).
- POPScholar, Inc is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and empowering students, particularly those who have faced significant hardships throughout their K-12 education. The POPScholar Awards aim to honor and reward Virginia high school seniors who have experienced homelessness during their K-12 education and aspire to become teachers. (2025, POPMentalityLLC)
Legislation & Guidance
- The Higher Education Opportunity Act, passed in August 2008, contains numerous provisions to increase homeless and foster students access [pdf] to postsecondary education.
- Federal Student Aid Handbook from Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education.