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US Citizen Permanent Resident Refugee or Asylum Awaiting a green card w/ SSN

Successfully Transitioning Unaccompanied Youth to Higher Education Misti Ruthven, College Access Team Colorado Department of Higher Education May 17, 2011. FAFSA Eligibility. US Citizen Permanent Resident Refugee or Asylum Awaiting a green card w/ SSN. Special Populations. Incarcerated

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US Citizen Permanent Resident Refugee or Asylum Awaiting a green card w/ SSN

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  1. Successfully Transitioning Unaccompanied Youth to Higher Education Misti Ruthven, College Access TeamColorado Department of Higher Education May 17, 2011

  2. FAFSA Eligibility • US Citizen • Permanent Resident • Refugee or Asylum • Awaiting a green card w/ SSN

  3. Special Populations • Incarcerated • Have Dependent • Legal Guardianship • Ward of the Court • Emancipated • Orphan or Foster Youth • Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

  4. Independent Youth • Orphan or Foster Youth • Ward of the Court • Emancipated • Legal Guardianship • Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

  5. Incarcerated Youth • Dependent • Federal, state, or local penitentiary, prison, jail • Not half-way house, home detention or serve only weekends • No loans • Eligible for FWS & FSEOG • Pell (Local Only)

  6. Students with Dependents • Must be born before end of award year • 50% of support • TANF • SNAP (Food Stamps)

  7. Legal Guardianship • Must be in formal legal guardianship • Common circumstances • Misunderstanding/Confusion

  8. Legislation Defining Homelessness In September of 2007, President Bush signed into law the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 Included within this legislation are amendments to expand the definition of independent student in FAFSA to include: (1) unaccompanied homeless youth; (2) youth who are in foster care at any time after the age of 13 or older, and; (3) youth who are emancipated minors or are in legal guardianships as determined by an appropriate court in the individual's state of residence.

  9. Emancipated • Before reaching age of majority • State-based • Common circumstances • Financial Aid/Tuition Classification

  10. Independency & FAFSA 2009-2010 FAFSATotal Number of Applicants for Independent Status - 19,490,665 Total Number of  Applicants who indicated a homeless circumstance - 47,204 As determined by school liaisons: 15,190 applicants - .08% As determined by HUD provider: 11,950 applicants - .06% As determined by RHYA provider: 20,064 applicants - .10%

  11. How many youth experience homelessness on their own? 1.6 to 1.7 million youth Public schools 956,914 homeless children/youth in 2008-2009 41% increase over past two years 69% increase for unaccompanied youth

  12. Homelessness and Foster Care What’s the Connection? 22% of homeless children are put into foster care 30% of children in foster care could return home if their parents had access to housing. Approximately 27% of homeless adults and 41% of homeless youth report a foster care history. 25% of youth “aging out” of foster care experience homelessness. 13

  13. Definition of Homelessness • Children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence— 67% - Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason 7% - Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping grounds due to lack of adequate alternative accommodations 22% - Living in emergency or transitional shelters

  14. Who are Unaccompanied Homeless Youth? Defining Homelessness • Unaccompanied • Not in the physical custody of parents • Homeless • Children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence • Youth • Under 24 years of age

  15. To Verify or Not Verify? 2010-11 FAFSA Verification is not required If choose to verify, authorized entities are: a McKinney-Vento Act school district liaison a HUD homeless assistance program director or their designee a Runaway and Homeless Youth Act program director or their designee a financial aid administrator. Sample verification template at www.naehcy.org

  16. Barriers to Higher Education • Documents • Address • Computer access • Forms • Campus resources • Communication • Street names • Privacy Laws

  17. HEOA 2008 and Homelessness Entities not using a cohort approach for GEAR UP must include homeless children and youth and youth in foster care as priority students. Entities using a cohort approach for GEAR UP should include homeless children and youth and youth in foster care as priority students.

  18. HEOA 2008 and Homelessness • TRIO programs must “identify and make available services..including mentoring, tutoring, and other services provided…” to: • Youth in foster care • Youth who left foster care after age 13 • Homeless children and youth • All three groups are automatically eligible to participate in Talent Search, Upward Bound, Student Support Services, and Educational Opportunity Centers.

  19. Contact Information Misti Ruthven Colo Dept of Higher Ed 303-866-2055 Misti.ruthven@dhe.state.co.us

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