NCHE PresentersNCHE Presenters

Diana Bowman dbowman@serve.org

Jan Moorejmoore@serve.org

Guest PresentersGuest Presenters

Beth Bullock Johnsonbethbullock77@gmail.com

Christine Craftccraft@henderson.k12.nc.us

Laura Misnerlmisner@cfnc.org

The National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) operates the U.S. Department of Education’s technical assistance and information center in the area of homeless education; www.serve.org/nche; Helpline: 800-308-2145 or homeless@serve.org

The NC Higher Education Collaborative on Homeless Youth (HECHY) seeks to smooth the transition to college for unaccompanied students who areexperiencing homelessness.

McKinney-Vento Act Unaccompanied homeless youth and

independent student status College support networks and initiatives SPOC Responsibilities Resources

Key responsibilities to support unaccompanied homeless youth (UHY) Create awareness on campus of homeless

students Expedite the process of determining eligibility

for independent student status for the FAFSA Facilitate campus discussions to develop a

system of support for UHY Link youth with campus resources and

community assistance

Title X, Part C of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)

Focuses on K-12, but includes transition to college, especially with College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA)

Local liaison in every school district State Coordinator in every state Key themes

Support for school access and success School stability Student-centered, best interest decision

making

M-V

Children or 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 (“doubling up”)

Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping grounds due to the lack of adequate alternative accommodations

Living in emergency or transitional shelters

Awaiting foster care placement 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 a similar setting

Migratory children living in the above circumstances

Unaccompanied youth living in the above circumstances

Fixed: Stationary, permanent, and not subject to change

Regular: Used on a predictable, routine, or consistent basis (e.g. nightly); consider the relative permanence

Adequate: Sufficient for meeting both the physical and psychological needs typically met in home environments

Consider relative permanence of living arrangementCan the student go to the SAME PLACE (fixed)

EVERY NIGHT (regular) to sleep in a SAFE AND SUFFICIENT SPACE (adequate)?

Shelters are often full, turning youth away No shelters in many suburban and rural areas Eligibility rules of shelters often exclude

unaccompanied minors Youth may fear adult shelters Shelters often have short stay limits Youth may be unaware of alternatives, fleeing

in crisis, living in overcrowded, temporary, and sometimes unsafe situations

Shelters often are a last resort

McKinney-Vento defines doubled-up as “sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason”

Questions to consider: Did the student lose his/her housing? Is the student experiencing economic hardship

resulting in inability to access stable housing? How permanent is the living arrangement

intended to be? Where would the student be if not doubled up? Is the living arrangement fixed, regular, and

adequate?

2-step process to determine eligibility1)Does the student’s living arrangement

meet the McKinney-Vento Act’s definition of homeless?

2)Once homelessness is determined, is the student unaccompanied?

Unaccompanied = “not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian”; in practical terms, the youth does not live with a parent or guardian

Longstanding patterns of family conflict: blended family issues, pregnancy, sexual activity or orientation, school problems, alcohol/drug use

Abuse and/or neglect within the home

Parental incarceration, substance abuse, illness, hospitalization, or death

Foster care issues: running away from a placement, aging out of the system; significant correlation between involvement with the child welfare system and experiencing homelessness as an adult

Some students become homeless with their families, but end up on their own due to lack of space in temporary accommodations or shelter policies that prohibit adolescent males

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

Sometimes there is “more than meets the eye” for a youth’s home life situation

Institutions of higher education do not need to understand and/or agree with all aspects of a student’s home life to educate him/her and comply with federal educational mandates

Financial Lack means to live independently &

safely Not self-sufficient once enrolled in college Housing Limited options, especially in small towns

and rural areas Nowhere to go when dorms close Support Struggle to balance school, work, etc. Unfamiliar with available support systems Lack of adult guidance and advocacy

Sarah was kicked out of her house after high school graduation. She’d had problems getting along with her stepdad for some time and the level of conflict got out of control. She went to live with her friend, Kim, but Kim’s parents said Sarah can only stay there until the end of the summer, when Kim leaves for college. Sarah is no longer in contact with her mom and stepdad.Is Sarah an unaccompanied homeless youth? Other questions?

Expanded definition of independent student includes: unaccompanied and homeless or unaccompanied, self-supporting, and at-risk of

homelessness (“when a student’s housing may cease to be fixed, regular, and adequate”)

Uses McKinney-Vento definition of homeless Includes a student:

living in dorm if he/she would otherwise be homeless

fleeing an abusive parent, even if the parentwould provide housing and support

Independent student status determined by:Local liaison (school district)RHYA-funded shelter director or

designeeHUD-funded shelter director or designeeCollege Financial Aid Administrator

Local Liaisons - NC http://center.serve.org/hepnc/nc_pol.php#local

State Coordinator - NCLisa Phillips, lphillip@serve.org, 800-659-3204

All other State Coordinator contact info http://center.serve.org/nche/states/state_resources.php

HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development). Local Office Directory http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/localoffices

RHYA (Runaway and Homeless Youth Act) Grantees http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/grants/fysb-grantees

Language from NCHE’s Determining Eligibility brief

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

UHY may be 21 or younger or still enrolled in high school when FAFSA is signed

Students who don’t meet the definition of youth (21 and under) but who are unaccompanied and homeless or self supporting and at risk of homelessness qualify for dependency override

Verification required only if there is conflicting information

Permits FAA to confirm status with documented interview (See handout: Making Student Status Determinations)

Encourages discretion and sensitivity when gathering information Child welfare and police reports are not necessary

Recommends consulting with local liaisons, State Coordinators, NCHE, counselors, clergy, etc.

Allows students to appeal eligibility determinations to the U.S. Department of Education

Be familiar with McKinney-Vento definition of homeless and apply it on case-by-case basis

Make a determination of homeless/ unaccompanied status if a student does not have, and cannot get, documentation from a liaison or shelter director Is not a professional judgment or

dependency override for youth 21 and younger

Consult with local liaisons, State Coordinators, or NCHE

Be reasonable and sensitive when requesting information from students

Samuel’s mom was incarcerated the summer before his senior year in high school, so Samuel had to leave home. Since his father has never been a part of his life, Samuel doesn’t even know if he’s still alive. Samuel has been staying with different relatives and friends since then, but none are willing to assume legal guardianship or provide financial support. He’s starting to apply for colleges and is concerned about having enough money to attend.

Is Samuel an unaccompanied homeless youth? Other questions?

Post information publicly in strategic locations throughout campus

Create awareness of the issue among faculty and staff, particularly those working in the area of financial aid, student services, and other support services

Awareness resources NCHE higher education brief

http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/briefs/higher_ed.pdf

NCHE/NASFAA awareness poster http://center.serve.org/nche/pr/he_poster.php

Refer students to campus and community support services upon admission

Establish coordination between financial aid offices, student support services, and campus housing

Start a food and clothing bank on campus Implement alternate housing plan when

dorms close: leave one residence hall open or establish a list of “host homes” in community

Begin a mentoring program

Convene a meeting of all stakeholders: McKinney-Vento K-12, Higher Education, and local communities

Share knowledge about your area of expertise Higher education: Financial aid Local liaisons: Identifying and serving students Community partners: Resources for homeless

Develop an action plan for serving UHY that fits your community

Examples of state networks: CO, MI, NC

Members from National Center for Homeless Education, NC Homeless Education Program, public and private colleges and universities, community colleges, public schools, NC State Education Assistance Agency, and others

Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for homeless students on every NC campus. http://www.cfnc.org/static/pdf/home/sc/pdf/SPOC_List.pdf

Presentations and publications Interested in joining? Contact Jan Moore,

jmoore@serve.org or 800-308-2145

Application and Verification Guide 2012-2013: Dependency Status (excerpt)

Making Student Status Determinations for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth: Tool for Financial Aid Administrators

Determining Eligibility for Rights and Services Under the McKinney-Vento Act

Increasing Access to Higher Education for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth: Information for Colleges and Universities

NCHE/NASFAA awareness poster

Webinar handouts at http://center.serve.org/nche/web/nc_spoc.php

National Center for Homeless Education Higher Education page:

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

NCHE helpline: 800-308-2145 or homeless@serve.org

NC Homeless Education Programhttp://center.serve.org/hepnc/

National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth

Higher Education page:http://www.naehcy.org/educational-resources/helpline