Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Determination
What is an Unaccompanied Homeless Youth?
A student who unaccompanied and has experienced homelessness qualifies as an Independent student for financial aid purposes. To be considered an unaccompanied homeless youth on the FAFSA® form, an individual must be a youth who is (1) unaccompanied and homeless or (2) unaccompanied, self-supporting, and at risk of being homeless.
It is important to clarify this terminology:
- Unaccompanied—when a student is not living in the physical custody of a parent or guardian
- Homeless—lacking fixed, regular, and adequate housing
- At risk of being homeless—when a student’s housing may cease to be fixed, regular, and adequate, for example, a student who is being evicted or has been asked to leave their current residence and has been unable to find fixed, regular, and adequate housing
- Self-supporting—when a student pays for his or her own living expenses, which includes paying for fixed, regular, and adequate housing
Students who meet these criteria do not have to provide parental information on the FAFSA/WASFA. As such, their financial aid eligibility is evaluated just on their own information. They also are generally eligible for additional support services, such as student support via the Passport to College Program.
Background Information
Starting with the 2024-25 FAFSA® form, applicants under the age of 24 will be presented with a single question to determine if they are a youth who is (1) unaccompanied and homeless or (2) unaccompanied, self-supporting, and at risk of becoming homeless. If they answer “Yes” to the homeless question, they will be asked if they have a documented determination from one of the eligible authorities listed below. Applicants who affirm they are unaccompanied homeless youth will be able to submit their application as an independent student.
Financial aid administrator can consider a student to be independent if the applicant’s status as an (1) unaccompanied and homeless youth or (2) unaccompanied and self-supporting youth at risk of homelessness is verified by one of the following authorities through a documented phone call, written statement, or a verifiable electronic data match:
- A local educational agency homeless liaison, as designated by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
- The director of an emergency or transitional shelter, street outreach program, homeless youth drop-in center, or other program serving individuals who are experiencing homelessness.
- The director of a Federal TRIO program or a Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate program (GEAR UP) grant; or
- A financial aid administrator (FAA) at another institution who documented the student’s circumstance in the same or a prior award year.
- In the absence of documentation from any of the individuals described above, financial aid administrators must make a case-by-case determination based upon a written statement form, or a documented interview with the student that confirms that they are unaccompanied homeless youth, or unaccompanied, at risk of homelessness, and self-supporting.
Your status as an independent student for financial aid purposes is determined based upon your answer on the FAFSA. If you reported foster care, dependent/ward of the court, emancipated minor, or legal guardianship; the financial aid office may require proof of your status and request documentation. Depending on the status reported on your FAFSA the table below indicates the documentation you need to provide.
Process at Wenatchee Valley College
Once WVC has received your FAFSA or WASFA, we'll normally email you to request documentation from you regarding your status. You'll fill out the Petition for Independent Status, providing some form of documentation to support your experience. If you do not have any documentation, please contact us to go over what options you may have available. Once you've submitted the form, we'll review and if approved, verify your FAFSA/WASFA for an Independent Status. Afterward, we'll evaluate your eligibility for financial aid using just your information.