<p>I'm 20 years old and I turn 21 later this year; however, I've run into some financial trouble as of late which led to problems such as crippling anxiety and depression. I ended up quitting my job to take another job for more hours (I was already working 40 per week). I applied for foodstamps and was rejected because I did not have any pay-stubs from my new job.. I saved up enough money for the few months rent I had left to pay, and I figured I would just make it as long as there were no more problems. However, I began to have car troubles, and after paying for that as well as the college courses I was taking at the time online, along with basic necessities such as food, I began to see myself dip into the negative. My stress brought me to the point where I was no longer able to work (construction, early morning hours - sleepless nights). Before, I persevered and worked through it, but I figured I would be forced into homelessness anyway so I quit my job with two weeks left until my lease was up. </p>
<p>I realized that I was trapped, as I only began to see my debt climb in a struggle to make payments and an inability to afford basic needs. While I have always wanted to transfer to a University (attended a CC for cost), I know there is no way I could afford it. My parents were firmly against taking out loans and I would not know anyone who would cosign; furthermore, I would not like to take out the ridiculously high interest rate loans that would be offered to someone with no financial history as myself. My parents do not contribute to my finances, as I have filed taxes as an independent the last three years and they have not claimed me on theirs. My parents are also upper middle class and own two businesses which drastically raises my EFC.</p>
<p>I am ashamed and humiliated with my position but I fortunate enough to have some friends that have let me crash at their houses as well as a car to sleep in. My current plan is just to make it to October because my brother returns from a trip and will let me stay with him for two months or so - hopefully by then I will have a better plan.</p>
<p>The reason I write this: I was recently informed by one of my friends that I could apply as "homeless" on my FAFSA; however, I am really unfamiliar with the process and I do not know how to be legally verified as homeless. I have not stayed in a shelter and I don't know if I will; I have too much pride. I've begun the process of applying for foodstamps again and have googled Homeless Basic Youth Centers and will try to get into contact with one over the next week or so. Also, my friend told me many schools may offer me a application fee waiver due to my financial situation.</p>
<p>How much of this is true? Is this a viable option? What should I do? I just want to make the best of a bad situation. Thank you for your responses. God Bless, and take care.</p>
<p>Remember to check official sources for information, like the Federal Govt Student Financial Aid pages and college financial aid pages for actual facts. But, </p>
<p>You have an entitlement to a Federal Direct Loan for each year of fr/soph/jr/sr of 5,500/6,500/7,500/7,500. You get this at the favorable federal student rate and you do not need your parents to sign for that. No one usually gives students further loans at ANY rate privately without a cosigner. </p>
<p>So until you are 24, your parents income determines your aid. Unless you are able to prove homelessness, which is considered a special circumstance for a dependency override. You will probably need some documentation of this. This is a judgement call and isn’t necessarily easy to get, so don’t depend on it. The /college/university will have to make this determination on a case by case basis.
<a href=“https://fafsa.ed.gov/fotw1314/help/fahelp29a.htm”>https://fafsa.ed.gov/fotw1314/help/fahelp29a.htm</a></p>
<p>Also the max loans for independent students are a few thousand more than the amounts listed above. Independent students may get a Pell Grant of up to 5,730. After that you aren’t guaranteed anything. Sometimes there are state funds depending where you live. Some universities give some. Most colleges do not give you all the money you need to attend. If you do attend CC classes I advise you not to mess around and fail or withdraw. Wait to take them when you can be responsible to get through a semester successfully or you will have messed up transcripts and that won’t help you.</p>
<p>It seems that you should at least work part time so you can buy some things. Even I don’t understand why you would quit working when you had financial problems, because that obviously makes the situation worse. Meanwhile see if you qualify for any services at the places you mentioned. You may be too old for youth services so see what the country has to offer for adults. If you can try to get a social worker because they can do case management for services, health food stamps, documentation of homelessness or risk.</p>
<p>You may get more advice here tomorrow.</p>
<p>Unless you can show that you cant live with your parents for serious reasons (documented abuse, etc), I dont see how you are homeless. Moving out of the parents home and then not having a place to live isnt really homeless…otherwise all 18+ year olds would do that and claim to be homeless. </p>
<p>The fact that your parents have a home makes it less likely that you would be considered homeless. </p>
<p>Move home and commute to college.</p>
<p>I have already received my Associates Degree. I quit my job because I did not want to be simply trapped. Quitting my job with two weeks left only cost me about 900 dollars or so, but if I would total how much gas I spent going to work and other variables it saved me less. However, if I were to get into a car accident or have my car break down or anything of the sort I would be screwed.</p>
<p>My parents live over 2000 miles away from me. They would not allow me to simply to move back in with them. I moved out of that house at 17 and I’m almost 21 now. I talked to my mother and she said that they can simply not afford to take me in, and I don’t blame them. Why should they have a right to take care of me? Plus my parents live in a rural town in the middle of nowhere. The closest university is about two and a half hours away and it is and out of state school. </p>
<p>And I simply disagree with you, all 18+ year olds would work 50 hours per week while taking a full time college load, while paying for all their bills - insurance, rent, food, etc. My parents won’t take me in, I’ve already spoken with them and I don’t expect them to. I’m an adult - no one is responsible for me except myself. That being said, me being homeless is where I’m at right now. I did not choose to be homeless and I will figure a way out of this. I don’t overspend or live a frivolous lifestyle. I was involved in a car accident, in which was my fault, and I had to purchase a new car… (bought a used car for $3000 cause it was all I could afford). The car has had problems twice - including replacing the shocks and struts (~700). It has a constant rattle and I’m afraid to take it in again because I don’t have any money.</p>
<p>I’m not asking for your sympathy. I’m simply asking if anyone understands the homeless criteria and can point me in the right direction. If it is not a viable option, I will figure out something else or take out federal loans as stated above. As for right now, I’m not really in a position to do any of this. </p>
<p>Also, when I say my parents don’t and won’t support me, I mean they will not take me in. Not because they are abusive or anything of the sort, but they don’t want to take me in and they can not afford to take me in. They are under a lot of stress, one of my father’s businesses is failing - it is an unstable situation and me being there is not the best idea. In addition to that, they told me I was not allowed to come home.</p>
<p>BrownParent- I read the link that you submitted - It said if I was verified as homeless from a homeless youth liaison or provider that would be acceptable for claiming homelessness. Do you know anything about that? How that process works?</p>
<p>If anyone on here has been homeless and received financial aid due to homelessness, please let me know.</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>If you apply at 20, you may be able to use homelessness for an automatic independent status. If you are over 21, you can’t use the homeless designation … “youth” is defined as under-21 in the federal regulations. You would need to get a Professional Judgment dependency override from the school. For a claim of homelessness, this is generally looked at in the same manner as it is for under-21 students - it just takes an aid officer to okay it.</p>
<p>Every student who uses homelessness to gain independent status - whether under or over 21 - will be required to provide documentation of homelessness. If you don’t have the formal documentation such as paperwork showing you live in a homeless shelter, you will need to convince the school of your situation … and each school has its own policies. The best advice I can give is to contact the school you want to attend - establish a relationship with a financial aid officer. This is the best person to help you.</p>
<p>At the least, you may be able to get student loans at the independent level … this would require having your parents sign paperwork that indicates that they do not and will not provide any type of assistance to you (money, health insurance, lodging, etc). With this, though, you only get the loans — you would not be eligible for any other aid, like a Pell grant. Only being considered independent would get you the possible Pell grant … but as others have noted, you may not qualify for anything more than loans and the possible Pell.</p>
<p>Please talk to an aid officer at the school you want to attend. This person can give you much better advice than we can give you … we can only tell you what might happen. </p>
<p>Kelsmom has given you some good advice. You can give it a go to see if you can qualify as independent as someone homeless or in danger of being so.</p>
<p>Have you had any financial aid at all, such as the Direct Loans, even on a non need basis? Are your academics in the shape where you can get financial aid. Do check on that.</p>
<p>With a zero EFC, you can get up to $5700 in federal aid, and $12500 in loans on your own (if you qualify for junior in college status). The rest depends upon the college and your state as to whether anymore is forthcoming. </p>
<p>Be aware that the average college student works full or part time, is in his mid 20s or older and is taking courses a little at a time as he can afford to pay for them, with little or no financial aid (due to status and course load, can’t get aid). For most people, it’s enough of a challenge to get oneself on even keel with shelter, a job, food, transportation to get by day to day without college in the equation, and only when those basics are covered, can college be on the agenda. Though it is possible to get enough college money to go to college full time, and get by with those funds, very few people I know who try are successful, and those that do have family/friends, someone helping out in terms of living quarters and other basics that I mentioned. Going it alone is very difficult, virtually impossible.</p>
<p>College is not the end all to be all. Some things in life, like getting on your own, getting a place to live, a job, are more important, and college can come later.</p>