Has anyone assisted a homeless student with getting into and staying in college? What was your experience. I am helping a friend of DD who has had to “couch surf” due to violence at home. She’s almost 18, and had received “unaccompanied minor” status with the school. She’s an ok student - 3.2, one sport, jobs every summer, low ACT - and wants to go to a state university.
With tests being optional, there are several that would admit her. She has a good essay. My concern is, if she gets tuition waived, (7K) do schools pick up room and board (est. 10K)? Frankly - community college would seem the best option for her in terms of academic success, but it doesn’t offer what she needs the most - a place to live and steady meals.
I think there are a lot of schools that would welcome her with such a strong story. Obviously the EFC is going to be Zero, so you need to search for a school that offers full assistance based on Estimated Family Contribution and will offer Federal Work Grant so that she can have a job on campus to make spending money.
Move over to the general College Admissions post and you might get wonderful answers based on the State
The Colleges that Change Lives website is a great resource https://ctcl.org/
In our experience, financial aid generally includes room and board. But avoid loans. If a student is homeless, I know of instances where the school gives the student a summer job on campus with a room.
In our state, graduates in good standing at a community college get admission with priority registration at our state university.
Check the cost at the state university, but don’t discard the idea of private schools where the experience is more personalized and supportive.
Diversity of experiences is important with college admissions, as is “overcoming obstacles.”
My daughter had two friends at college who were in a similar situation. One thing to think about is housing during school breaks (and Covid closures!). These young women were always scrambling for places to live and work during the long breaks. The school let them stay during short closures, such as Thanksgiving, or they went home with friends.
It’s difficult to get a full ride. Very difficult. She should have a zero EFC, which would guarantee her about $6k I’m PELL grant money , and $9500 in Direct loans with $3500 subsidized, I think. She needs to see what state money she can get. Some states have financial aid for college
Of course, it’s ideal that she takes zero loans. But it may come down to borrowing the money to get through college with living expenses covered or trying to make enough to make ends meet, working and going to school.
I’d love to say a school will scoop her up and sponsor her, but I’ve not seen this happen often.
Some community colleges do have housing. There are also schools with a large “student ghettos” so that living in the economy is what many kids do.
I am also helping a student in this situation with the same stats.
If your state actually waives tuition for homeless students, she can use her pell grant and loans to cover housing. Only a few states that I know of do this: Maryland, Florida.
Maine and Nevada maybe, it is not clear.
Other states (last dollar states) will cover whatever is remaining of tuition and fees after pell grant and any other aid. So loans are the only option for room and board.
First dollar states are similar to waiver states and leave you with your pell and loan.
I don’t think most full need privates will work out for students with stats like this.
Adding an affordable school for homeless students.
The student that I am assisting got $14K in merit from Benedict College (an hbcu in SC). They applied test optional with a 3.3 uw gpa and basic college prep courses (no honors or AP).
Combined with Pell Grant, Work Study, FSEOG, summer job, this is an affordable choice for a low stats efc=0 student.