Tag: #UHY

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

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

Many unaccompanied homeless youth have higher education aspirations, but find the barriers to enrollment and attendance to be overwhelming. This NCHE brief provides a better understanding of unaccompanied homeless youth and the educational and other challenges they face, a summary of federal education legislation that gives unaccompanied homeless youth access to important educational supports, and samples of promising practices implemented by high schools, colleges, and universities to assist unaccompanied homeless youth in succeeding in college.

Click here for Full Document

Published Spring 2012


Making Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Determinations: A Tool for Financial Aid Administrators For the 2022-2023 FAFSA

Making Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Determinations: A Tool for Financial Aid Administrators For the 2022-2023 FAFSA

This form may be completed by a financial aid administrator (FAA) who is evaluating a student’s eligibility for independent student status. There is no official federal form that FAAs are required to use for unaccompanied homeless youth determinations; this form is provided as an optional tool to assist with this task.

Click here for Full Document

Published 2022-2023


Meeting the Educational Needs of Students Displaced by Disasters: Youth on Their Own

Meeting the Educational Needs of Students Displaced by Disasters: Youth on Their Own

This NCHE brief describes the challenges faced by youth on their own who have become homeless due to a disaster; explains basic provisions of the McKinney-Vento Act relevant to serving unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness; and provides strategies for local educational agencies (LEAs) and relief agencies to put into place to serve unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness before and after a disaster occurs.

Click here for Full Document

Published December 2022


Making Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Determinations: A Tool for Financial Aid Administrators For the 2021-2022 FAFSA

Making Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Determinations: A Tool for Financial Aid Administrators For the 2021-2022 FAFSA

This form may be completed by a financial aid administrator (FAA) who is evaluating a student’s eligibility for independent student status. There is no official federal form that FAAs are required to use for unaccompanied homeless youth determinations; this form is provided as an optional tool to assist with this task.

Click here to download PDF

Published 2021-2022


Making Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Determinations: A Tool for Financial Aid Administrators For the 2023-2024 FAFSA

Making Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Determinations: A Tool for Financial Aid Administrators For the 2023-2024 FAFSA

This form may be completed by a financial aid administrator (FAA) who is evaluating a student’s eligibility for independent student status. There is no official federal form that FAAs are required to use for unaccompanied homeless youth determinations; this form is provided as an optional tool to assist with this task.

Click here for Full PDF

Published 2022


Supporting the Education of Unaccompanied Students Experiencing Homelessness Webinar

Screenshot of title slide used in video. Click to watch full video.

Supporting the Education of Unaccompanied Students Experiencing Homelessness Webinar

In this interactive webinar, presenters will review key concepts related to the education of unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness included in the McKinney-Vento Act. Presenters will cover:

  • The definitions of “unaccompanied” and “homeless”
  • K-12 educational rights and supports for unaccompanied homeless students
  • Supports for unaccompanied homeless youth transitioning to higher education

Presenters: NCHE Staff
Date Recorded: March 2023
Length: 1 hour and 10 minutes

Click here to watch on YouTube

In preparation for attending your Webinar, please download all handouts below. These materials will be used or referenced during the Webinar:

PowerPoint icon Supporting the Education of Unaccompanied Students Experiencing Homelessness (PowerPoint presentation)

PowerPoint icon Supporting the Education of Unaccompanied Students Experiencing Homelessness (NCHE issue brief)