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Supporting Higher Education Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania Pennsylvania s Education s Education for Children & Youth for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Experiencing Homelessness Program Program (ECYEH) (ECYEH)

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Page 1: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

Supporting Higher EducationSupporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth for Vulnerable Youth

PennsylvaniaPennsylvania’’s Educations Education for Children & Youth Experiencing for Children & Youth Experiencing

Homelessness ProgramHomelessness Program(ECYEH)(ECYEH)

Page 2: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

McKinney-Vento Federal ActMcKinney-Vento Federal Act

A law to protect A law to protect children experiencing homelessness children experiencing homelessness

through educational stability.through educational stability.

“. . .through it all, school is the only thing that has kept me going. I know that every day that I walk in those doors, I can stop thinking about my problems.” Carrie Arnold, LeTendre Scholar, former student experiencing homelessness, 2002

Page 3: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

40% of all homeless in the United States, and the fastest growing population are Women, Children, and Families

65% of the families are women with children 20%-40% were experiencing sexual abuse 40%-60% were experiencing physical abuse

Page 4: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

Did You Know?

Program funds and guidance are provided by the McKinney-Vento Act passed in 1987.

Each district in the state has a Homeless Liaison to serve their homeless students.

The average age of a homeless individual in the United States is 9 years.

Page 5: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

Program Eligibility -Program Eligibility - Who is Homeless: Who is Homeless:

Children who lack a fixed, regular and adequate night time residence

Page 6: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

Who is Homeless cont’dWho is Homeless cont’d Sharing housing of others due to loss of

housing, economic hardship, or similar reason (“Doubled up”)

Living in motels, hotels, trailers, camping grounds, tents, barns, cars, abandoned buildings, etc. due to lack of adequate alternative accommodations

Living in emergency or transitional shelters

Abandoned, throw-away, runaway children not living with a parent or legal guardian

Migratory children living in above circumstances

Awaiting Foster Care placement

Page 7: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

Case-by-case determination

Need to secure as much information as possible (without intimidating the parent or youth)

Program Eligibility

NCHENCHE’’s Determining Eligibility brief is available at s Determining Eligibility brief is available at http://www.serve.org/nche/downloads/briefs/det_elig.pdfhttp://www.serve.org/nche/downloads/briefs/det_elig.pdf

Look at the McKinney-Vento definition (assess the situation per specific examples within the definition first, then look at the overall definition as each case is unique)

Page 8: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

Definition: “Awaiting Foster Care” Children and youth “awaiting foster care” placement include

those who are placed in shelters, emergency foster care, transitional foster care or respite care.

These placement settings are intended to be short term, and do not typically last longer than 30 days.

Individual circumstances may, at times, require a longer length of stay.

Page 9: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

Was there an event?Flood

Fire

Mold

Domestic Violence

Thrown Out

Eviction

RunawayOr Substandard Housing?

Legal Definition: “fixed, regular, adequate”

How Schools Determine HomelessnessHow Schools Determine Homelessness

Page 10: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

Substandard HousingNo utilities (heat, water,

etc.)OvercrowdedBoards on windowsTarp on RoofCamperHoles to outsideDirt on FloorHotelMotelTentCar

Page 11: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

More people living in shelters and transitional housing Transient populations (families will move in and out of locations) More single adults Homelessness is a more “visible” issue – people sometimes on the streets Open to & often seeking services More resources and funding available

Living in cars, parks, campgrounds, barns, tents, hunting cabins; run down homes often without running water or heat, windows are gone, roof covered with tarps; doubled-up with other familiesStable populations (do not move as frequently)More familiesHomeless is a “hidden” issue – people are under a roofLess likely to accept or seek our servicesFewer resources available

Rural VS Urban

Page 12: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

Temporary: When people are displaced from their usual dwellings by fire, eviction, divorce, etc.

Episodic: Those who frequently experience periods of being housed and then homeless.

Patterns of HomelessnessPatterns of Homelessness

Chronic: Without a home for more than a year. More likely to suffer from mental illness and substance abuse then other classes of homeless people (Bassuketal. 1986; Fischer and Breakey, 1988).

Page 13: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

Key Provisions- SchoolsKey Provisions- Schools

Students can stay in their school of origin for the duration of homelessness and until the end of the school year when they find permanent housing, as long as that is in their best interest.

School of origin—school attended when permanently housed or in which last enrolled.

Best interest—keep students who are homeless in their schools of origin, to the extent “feasible”, unless this is against the parents’ or guardians’ wishes.

Can always also choose the local school (any school others living in the same area are eligible to attend).

Page 14: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

How Can How Can PAPA’’s ECYEH Program Help?s ECYEH Program Help?

Provide technical assistance to districts and organizations

Implement tutoring and enrichment services in shelters and other settings

Distribute literature related to homeless children

Provide training and in-service related to the McKinney- Vento Homeless Assistance Act

Assist students with obtaining clothing, school supplies, fees, etc.

Assist with school enrollment and placement

Provide referrals for clothing, food, shelter, rent, medical services, preschool, housing, advocacy, counseling, etc.

Page 15: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

Unaccompanied Youth Experiencing Unaccompanied Youth Experiencing HomelessnessHomelessness

Schools cannot require that a family who “takes in” a student obtain guardianship. Guardianship can only come from a judge.

Students can sign paperwork themselves, the adult they live with can complete a “Caregiver’s Authorization Form” in order to sign for them, or the District Liaison can sign in lieu of these options.

Page 16: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

Unaccompanied Youth Experiencing Unaccompanied Youth Experiencing Homelessness ContHomelessness Cont’’dd

Many children under the age of 18 who live with someone who is not a parent or legal guardian fall under this definition. Children over the age of 18 who have been “kicked out” of their home, or left due to safety reasons, will also meet this definition.

Unaccompanied homeless youth can apply for Federal Student Aid (complete the FAFSA form) to attend college without a parent/guardian signature.

Page 17: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

Helping A Student Experiencing Helping A Student Experiencing Homelessness Complete The FASFAHomelessness Complete The FASFA

Page 18: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

Classification as Classification as ““IndependentIndependent”” Independent if ANY of these are true:

Married24 years oldVeteran or on active dutyGraduate studentHas a legal dependent (child/other)Orphan/Ward of the court/In a legal guardianshipLegally emancipated minorIn foster care at age 13 or olderUnaccompanied homeless youthIndependent by “professional judgment” or “dependency

override” as determined by the Financial AidAdministrator (FAA)

Page 19: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

Calculation of Federal AidCalculation of Federal AidEFC = Expected Family Contribution; based on

the information submitted on the FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education will calculate the EFC

Dependent Student

Must report parent information on FAFSA

EFC is based on parents’ and student’s income and assets

Independent Student

Does NOT report parent information on FAFSA

EFC is based on student’s income and assets

Page 20: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

“Accompanied students” experiencing homelessness fill out the FAFSA as dependent students

Living arrangement meets the M-V definition of homeless

In the physical custody of a parent or guardian

DEPENDENT OR INDEPENDENT

Page 21: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

Accompanied Student Experiencing Accompanied Student Experiencing Homelessness and The FAFSAHomelessness and The FAFSA

Provide information on parent income and assets and their own income and assets

Need parent signature The EFC is based on family income and assets; as such, even

though they fill out the FAFSA as dependent students, homeless students from low-income families will likely qualify for a beneficial aid package

Example: The EFC Formula, 2012-2013 explains that, under certain circumstances, students qualify for an automatic $0 EFC, including students who received free school meals in 2010 or 2011, and whose parents’ 2011 income is less than $23,000http://ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/010512EFCFormulaGuide1213.pdf

Page 22: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

Dependent or IndependentDependent or Independent“Unaccompanied” youth experiencing homelessness or at rick of homeless fill out the FAFSA as Independent Students.

Living arrangement meets the M-V definition of homeless

Not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian

21 or older or still enrolled in high school on the date he/she signs the FAFSA

“At risk of homelessness”: when a student’s housing may cease to be fixed, regular and adequate, for example, a student who is being evicted and has been unable to find fixed, regular, and adequate housing.

Page 23: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

Unaccompanied Student Experiencing Unaccompanied Student Experiencing Homelessness And the FAFSAHomelessness And the FAFSA

Do not need to provide information on parental income and assets

Do not need a parental signature Do provide information on their own

income and assets Independent status is not equivalent to

free tuition; however, the EFC is calculated proportional to what the student can provide based on his/her resources

Page 24: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

Factors To Determine Independent Factors To Determine Independent Status For UHYStatus For UHY

Local homeless education liaison; for students graduating from high school who were identified as an UHY while in high school

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) shelter director or designee; for students who have received services

Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) shelter director or designee; for students who have received services

Financial Aid Administrator (FAA); for any student, but particularly those who cannot get a determination from one of the other three authorized parties

Page 25: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

Financial Aid forFinancial Aid for Undocumented Students Undocumented Students

Undocumented students cannot legally receive any federally funded student financial aid, including loans, grants, scholarships, and work-study programs

Undocumented students are not eligible for state aid to attend a state institution in most states, although a handful of states grant eligibility for state aid to undocumented students who qualify for in-state tuition

Private colleges and universities set their own financial aid policies; some are willing to give scholarships and other aid to undocumented students

Many, but not all, private scholarships require applicants to be U.S. citizens or legal residents

Page 26: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

College Admission forCollege Admission forUndocumented StudentsUndocumented Students

There is no federal or state law prohibiting the admission of undocumented immigrants into U.S. colleges and universities

Institution-specific policies, however, vary: Some institutions of higher education do not require students to prove citizenship in order to gain admission, while others do

Some institutions admit undocumented students but treat them as out-of-state or foreign students, making them ineligible for state aid and in-state tuition

Page 27: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

College Tuition for Undocumented College Tuition for Undocumented StudentsStudents

Many states charge undocumented students out-of-state tuition fees

States that permit undocumented students to pay in-state tuition under certain circumstances include California, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Washington

For example, California's law requires the undocumented student to have attended a state high school for three or more years, to have graduated from a state high school, and to sign an affidavit promising to file an application to legalize his immigration status

Page 28: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

2012-2013 2012-2013 Application and Application and Verification GuideVerification Guide

Updated Application and Verification Guide (AVG) released in March 2012

Student can use the college’s administrative address as his/her mailing address

Youth = 21 or younger or still enrolled in high school on the date he/she signs the FAFSA

Ages 22-23 = need a dependency override for independent status

Age 24 or older is automatic independent status

Page 29: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

2012-2013 2012-2013 Online Online FASFAFASFA

Page 30: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

2012-2013 2012-2013 Online Online FAFSAFAFSA

Page 31: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

2012-2013 2012-2013 PDF FAFSAPDF FAFSA

Page 32: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

2012-2013 FAFSA2012-2013 FAFSA

Page 33: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

“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 2014

Page 34: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

ResourcesResources

NAEHCY Template (Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Documentation of Independent Student Status for the FAFSA) available at www.naehcy.org/higher_ed.html

NCHE/NAEHCY FAA Tool (Making Student Status Determinations for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth: Eligibility Tool for Financial Aid Administrators) available at www.serve.org/nche/downloads/faa_det_tool.pdf

Page 35: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

GENERAL

GENERAL

RESOURCES

RESOURCES

National Center for Homeless Education -http://www.serve.org/nche

Pennsylvania Department of Education –http://www.pde.state.pa.us/http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/homeless_children's_initiativepro

Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessnesshttp://homeless.center-school.org/index.cfm

Center for Schools and Communities – http://www.center-school.org/http://homeless.center-school.org

Horizons for Homeless Children -http://www.horizonsforhomelesschildren.org

National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty -http://www.nlchp.org

National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth -http://www.naehcy.org

Page 36: Supporting Higher Education for Vulnerable Youth Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)

For Assistance ContactFor Assistance ContactLynda Becker

ECYEH Youth Development CoordinatorCenter for Schools and Communities

Camp Hill, PA717.763.1661 X 156Fax: 717.763.2083

[email protected]

Sonia PitziRegion 3 ECYEH Coordinator

Lincoln Intermediate UnitYork, PA

[email protected]

ECYEH regional/site coordinator for your area (see regional map)