The most recent report on homelessness in the U.S. published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) contains some important statistics. While the number of homeless in the United States slightly increased between 2020 and 2022, the number of families with children experiencing homelessness and the number of people under the age of 25 who experienced homelessness on their own as unaccompanied youth declined (by 6% and 12% respectively). However, it’s also estimated that nearly 50,800 families with children experienced homelessness in 2022, while there were still over 30,000 homeless unaccompanied youth.* If you’re experiencing homelessness, you need to know that there is guidance available when it’s time to fill out the FAFSA.
Homelessness
The FAFSA asks up to three questions about homelessness. They all ask if you’ve been determined to be an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless any time since July 1 of the year prior to the academic year for which you will need financial aid for college. This determination can be given by 1) a high school or district homeless liaison, 2) a director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or 3) a director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program.
If you answer yes to any one of the questions about homelessness, you’ll be considered an independent student; therefore, you won’t have to provide your parents’ income information on your FAFSA. Later, you may be asked by a financial aid administrator to provide a copy of the homeless youth determination. If you did not receive a determination provided by one of the officials listed above, you’ll be considered a dependent student on the FAFSA, but you may ask a financial aid administrator to consider making their own determination. The administrator will probably ask you for additional documentation from those who are familiar with your situation before reaching a decision.
When providing a street address on your FAFSA, follow these instructions given by the U.S. Department of Education: “You must provide a mailing address where you can reliably receive mail. Your mailing address can be the address of a relative or friend who has given you permission to use it, or it can be your college’s address. If you want to use your college’s address, you must contact the school for permission and instructions to ensure that your mail reaches you.” Don’t forget to update your FAFSA later when you find more permanent housing.
For more information about federal student aid for homeless students, visit StudentAid.gov.
Unable to Provide Parental Information
If you’re not homeless, you may still be in a situation where you’re unable to provide information about your parents’ income and assets due to special circ*mstances. If you’re in this situation, you’ll be given the opportunity to state on the FAFSA that you’re unable to provide parental information. Common reasons for this are:
- you had to leave home due to abuse, abandonment or neglect
- your parents are deceased and you haven’t been adopted
- you have no contact with your parents and you don’t know how to reach them.
If one of these special circ*mstances applies to you, or there is any other extreme situation that you believe would qualify you as an independent student, submit your FAFSA without parental information, and then contact the financial aid office at your college of interest to discuss your options. Ask what you would need to do to be considered an independent student due to your current circ*mstances. Only a financial aid officer is able to change your dependency status.
Decreased Income
You’ll be using your 2021 income information on your 2023-24 FAFSA. If your income (or that of your parents) is currently less than it was in 2021, you may ask your financial aid counselor about reducing the amount of the income on your FAFSA to more accurately reflect your current situation. First, submit your FAFSA with the accurate information that was reported in 2021, and then call the financial aid office at your college of interest to ask if they can adjust your income to your current level. They will ask for proof of your current income, consider your request and let you know if they can make that change. Only a financial aid officer is able to make a change to the income reported on your FAFSA for this reason.
Remember This
More and more attention is being given to students who are challenged by circ*mstances beyond their control. The financial aid office at your college is on your side, and it will do whatever it can within the laws that govern financial aid and within school policies to remove obstacles that may stand in your way. We wish you the best as you begin your journey to a brighter future!
For more information, check out the 2022 Homeless Assessment Report.
*HUD Releases 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report
FAQs
While it is not required to help the financial aid administrator make a homeless youth determination, you may want to submit documentation from any of the following:
- Local school district personnel.
- State homeless education coordinators.
- The National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE)
The National Coalition for the Homeless states there are three types of homelessness: chronic, transitional, and episodic.
What is the biggest predictor of homelessness? ›
“Pretty soon it became very clear that rental costs and vacancy rates were by far the biggest predictor of rates of homelessness in a community,” Colburn said.
What is the hidden homelessness crisis? ›
Individuals experiencing "hidden" homelessness tend to find themselves in housing situations that are not as well captured in official statistics, such as sofa surfing, squatting and rough sleeping out of sight.
How do I answer the homeless question on FAFSA? ›
If you are experiencing homelessness but living with and/or receiving support from your parents, you will answer NO to the following questions, because you do not meet the definition of an unaccompanied homeless youth. You will fill out the FAFSA as instructed. If you answer YES, another question will pop up.
How to write a proof of homelessness letter? ›
I am ________________, ____________________. ________________ reports to have experienced homelessness continuously: from _________ to _________ (or) _________ times between _________ for a total of _________ months in the past 3 years. _________ currently homeless and residing at ________________.
What are 5 things a homeless person could use? ›
Consider lip balm, toothpaste, toothbrush, comb, razor, shaving cream, and deodorant. variety of services available to homeless men, women and families that they might not know about.
What is silent homelessness? ›
Hidden Homelessness
Since they lack access to housing support resources and cannot be identified, they are 'hidden' from national statistics on homelessness. People who experience hidden homelessness, often turn to friends, family, and neighbors for a shelter or a place of refuge.
What type of people are most homeless? ›
African Americans.
Among the nation's racial and ethnic groups, Black Americans have the highest rate of homelessness. Fifty-four out of every 10,000 Black people in the United States were homeless during the 2018 point-in-time count.
What is the root cause of homelessness? ›
On a global scale, poverty is one of the most significant root causes of homelessness. Stagnant wages, unemployment, and high housing and healthcare costs all play into poverty. Being unable to afford essentials like housing, food, education, and more greatly increases a person's or family's risk.
ADDICTION
68% of U.S. cities report that addiction is a their single largest cause of homelessness.
What is the number one contributor to homelessness? ›
One of the primary drivers of homelessness is the severe lack of affordable housing.
Who has the worst homeless problem? ›
New York and Vermont have the nation's highest homelessness rates among US states.
| State | Homeless people per 10,000 |
|---|
| New York | 52.7 52.7 52.7 |
| Vermont | 50.9 50.9 50.9 |
| Oregon | 47.6 47.6 47.6 |
| California | 46.6 46.6 46.6 |
16 more rowsMar 29, 2024
Many of the problems that people experiencing homelessness face can make their health worse, including:
- Limited access to health care.
- Problems getting enough food.
- Trouble staying safe.
- Violence.
- Stress.
- Unsanitary living conditions.
- Exposure to severe weather.
Strategies that work
- Prevention. Provide supports so people can stay in their homes. ...
- Outreach. Build relationships with people without permanent housing. ...
- Interim housing. Provide temporary safe housing to meet pressing needs. ...
- Permanent housing. ...
- Supportive services (EMBEDDED IN all strategies)
Measurement. The most common way of measuring homelessness is through so-called 'point-in-time' estimates of people who are sleeping in shelters or on the streets. These are figures that are intended to reflect the number of people who are homeless 'on any given night'.
What is the FAFSA Simplification Act for homelessness? ›
The 2023-24 FAFSA application was updated so that if a student indicates he or she is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, then the application automatically overrides the request for parent information and a home address, making the applicant file as independent of a parent, meaning they don't have to submit ...
What is a verification letter for unaccompanied homeless youth for the purposes of federal financial aid? ›
A signed statement from a third-party professional that verifies the student meets the definition of being unaccompanied and homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless. This person should know and understand the student's current circ*mstances.
What are hidden forms of homelessness? ›
Hidden Homelessness
Individuals who live with others temporarily without a permanent home are considered “hidden homeless,” as it is often most unnoticed. Since they lack access to housing support resources and cannot be identified, they are 'hidden' from national statistics on homelessness.
