Help for a friend.

Paying for College
1

<p>Hi, my boyfriend is in a bit of a bind and I'm not sure where else to go. </p>

<p>He was kind of a screw up, but is finally getting his life on track. But, there are issues. He moved out of an abusive home when he was 16 and has been supporting himself ever since (3 years). But he got mixed up in a lot of bad stuff like drugs and ultimately got arrested. He got probation and all that (no jail, it was only weed), but is going through a special program so that when he finishes all of his requirements, his record will be clean. He also ended up losing his job. </p>

<p>But, he's finally getting everything right. He received his GED and is trying to get into a massage therapy program at our local CC. He is independent for 09-10 because our high school declared him homeless after he moved out. But, he isn't considered independent for 08-09, even though he had no contact with his parents for over three years. He is going to the CC today though to see if they can change it. If so, he will have a really low EFC (0 for 08-09 and 297 for 09-10), both with a pell grant large enough to cover all the CC costs. </p>

<p>But now that he has college paid for, he is having other issues. He is trying to find a job, but we live just outside of Detroit and there are literally none. He also has no car because he doesn't have the money to fix his. On top of all that, he is also raising his younger sister because he pulled her out of their abusive house, but legally she isn't his dependent so he can't get any support for her. </p>

<p>I guess what I am trying to ask is if there's any like grants or anything for someone like him. I know he screwed up, but he's trying to make it right. I am really just wondering if there are any kind of government funds that can help returning students with living expenses if they are trying to find a job. I know there's probably not, but I've googled my butt off trying to find any and if anyone would know about it, it would be people on here. </p>

<p>Thanks for taking the time to read this. I ask that people not attack him and please just offer any advice. </p>

<p>Thank you.</p>

<p>EDIT: Also, he has no help from his parents. His parents never married and are both really screwed up. They are both mentally and physically abusive and are hard-core drug users. Neither of them have jobs, and he is the first in his family to receive any kind of high school diploma (even if it was a GED). He has very little contact with his mom and dad, really only talks to them so that he can stay in touch with his half-siblings and nieces and nephews.</p>

2

<p>If he has a child living with him it seems like he should start with Social Services for help with her support - food, heating, and perhaps some rent assistance. Whether or not he has legal custody of her probably does not matter as I’ve known of cases where there were unrelated people living in the same home and receiving such assistance. I believe the total income of all the household members is what is considered. If he is willing to take loans, the CC should certify an amount for off-campus living expenses in the COA and he’ll be elgible for a Stafford loan.</p>

3

<p>He is willing to take loans, as long as he doesn’t have to pay them right away (because he obviously doesn’t have the resources to :(). But do you think they will offer them to him if the Pell Grant already covers everything? </p>

<p>Sorry, my school is paid for by scholarships and stuff so I never had to look at loans, so I’m honestly not sure how it works.</p>

4

<p>I pm’d you with an idea.</p>

5

<p>I don’t think you can get enough Pell grant to cover room and board for a year at any school, even off campus! It may be enough to cover tuition, fees, and books but not include any R&B. Yes, I think his FA office will be willing to add a R&B component and certify a loan. He may be able to get work study funds as well.</p>

6

<p>It is a community college and the COA is around $2500 for a regular year and about $4600 for the program he wants to go in. The Pell covers both of them (which ever he decides to follow).</p>

<p>The place he is living now is government housing based on income, which is at 0 right now and he has a grace period to find a new job. Other expenses are also covered by government funds-- food stamps for example.</p>

7

<p>So there probably is very little R&B and transportation in his COA right now. The school can likely change that so he can at least get some Stafford loan and/or work study money…at least enough to fix his car!</p>

8

<p>Haha, I hope. He is heading up there tomorrow, or whenever the rain lets up enough that he can walk a few miles. Bum weather!</p>

<p>Would he be able to get an Stafford loan even if he technically had everything covered? He has extra aid coming too from another MI program that gives aid to people who were on medicaid, and I wonder if they would use that first before giving him a Stafford loan.</p>

9

<p>There are different kinds of aid - the medicaid thing may not be student aid. You can get student aid up to the amount of your COA only (including transportation, personal expense, r&b, and tuition/fees/books). Most college websites list what their full COA is, including different amounts for on and off campus.</p>

10

<p>I hope I am not the bearer of bad tidings, but if one of his arrests was for drugs, that may disqualify him for federal aid. I could be wrong, but you might want to quietly check into it.</p>

11

<p>I live in Michigan so I understand what your boyfriend going through with the economy and job availability. You might try the website for the State of Michigan and search for “No Worker Left Behind”. I think they have some programs that assist with community college education. At the very least, perhaps they can direct you to programs that would give assistance with living expenses while in school.</p>

12

<p>OperaDad, we’ve already checked on it. It was not while he was receiving federal aid so he is OK. </p>

<p>momwithhope, thanks, I’ll look into that. He is currently trying to get to the Michigan Works office that is about 3 miles from his house, but he has to walk and with this horrible rain we’re having, it’s just not a possibility. I’ve never heard of that though, so thank you :).</p>