GEAR UP

Supporting Homeless Youth with Financial Aid Presentation Slides

Presented by Jillian Sitjar, SchooolHouse Connection (DC), Melinda Dyer, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (WA)

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Before the COVID-19 pandemic, an estimated 4.2 million youth and young adults experienced homelessness on their own each year. The outbreak and resulting economic crisis have pushed more youth into homelessness, and at the same time, exacerbated the challenges of youth who were homeless prior to the outbreak. Yet higher education remains their best long-term opportunity for economic independence, health, stability, and well-being. Unaccompanied homeless youth face extraordinary challenges filling out the FAFSA. This session will provide an overview of youth experiencing homelessness, the process for filling out the FAFSA as an unaccompanied homeless youth, the barriers these students often face, and tips for removing these challenges.

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