Answer: The student should indicate his status on the FAFSA as an unaccompanied homeless youth. If he completes the FAFSA online, there will be an option for him to indicate his homeless status, and to indicate that he does not have a determination from the liaison. It would look like the screen shot below:
The financial aid administrator at the schools to which he is applying will reach out to him. They may ask for some kind of other documentation of his status, so it would be good if he has any kind of note from other adults or professionals in his life who can attest to his situation. If he does not have documentation from a liaison or a shelter, then the financial aid administrator must make a determination based on the legal definition of homeless unaccompanied youth. The financial aid administrator can make a determination based on a documented interview with the student.