News and Updates
Young People Explain Four Higher Education Bills
On Wednesday, May 11, SchoolHouse Connection, John Burton Advocates for Youth, and the Youth Law Center, organized a Congressional briefing in collaboration with the Offices of Representative Danny Davis and Senator Bob Casey. Senator Patty Murray was an honorary co-host. Young people with lived experience in the foster care system and with homelessness explained four higher education bills that would have a significant and positive impact on the lives and futures of young people. These young leaders also discussed the need for reform of the Chafee Education and Training Voucher Program and in the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirement for federal financial aid.
read more
Support Homeless and Foster Youth in Higher Education: Take Action to Support Four Federal Bills
Postsecondary attainment is increasingly necessary to move out of poverty and homelessness and live a healthy, secure life. However, homeless and foster youth face unique barriers to accessing and completing higher education, including lack of family and supportive adults, histories of neglect, abuse, trauma, mobility, and severe poverty. Four complementary bills will help homeless and foster youth transition successfully to and through higher education, and receive the support they need to complete their degrees and achieve economic independence.
read more
Recommendations for the Implementation of the FAFSA Simplification Act
Here are the final comments specific to homeless and foster youth provisions on the 2023-2024 FAFSA. We urge ED to take every possible step to implement these provisions as soon as possible, including incorporating them on the 2023-2024 FAFSA. In particular, we urge that the following FAFSA Simplification changes be reflected on the 2023-2024 FAFSA.
read more
President’s Proposed Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Released
On March 28, 2022, the White House released the President’s funding proposal for the fiscal year 2023 (FY23) federal budget. Congress will work over the coming months to develop the final FY23 spending package.
read more
Documents That Matter: Understanding the Importance of Gathering and Keeping Vital Documents
Having access to important documents will help you to access the world around you, but as a young person who has experienced homelessness, you may have lost these documents over time. This resource is designed to help you identify which documents you need and how to access them.
read more
Launching a Program for Food and Housing Insecure College Students: A Step-by-Step Approach
Written by John C.S. Kepner, advisor to the College Student Basic Needs Program and Trustee Board Member of Gwynedd Mercy University (GMercyU) in suburban Philadelphia. In this blog, John describes his journey of putting together a coalition of community-based organizations to address the problem of food and housing insecurity in GMercyU.
read more
Congress Passes Fiscal Year 2022 Spending Package: FAFSA Fixes for Homeless and Foster Youth Will Go Into Effect on Time
On March 10, 2022, Congress passed a legislative package including over $1.5 trillion for the final fiscal year 2022 (FY22) budget. Overall, the bill provides modest increases for education, early care, homeless, and housing programs. See the summary here.
read more
Act by April 22 to Support $800M for Homeless Children & Youth
Please urge your U.S. Representative today to sign on to the Yarmuth-Bacon-Davis letter in support of funding for children and youth experiencing homelessness. The more U.S. Representatives who sign on to the letter, the greater the show of support for enacting these critical funding levels in the FY23 budget.
read more
The FAFSA Simplification Act: Youth Experiencing Homelessness and Youth with Experience in Foster Care
The FAFSA Simplification Act (enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 and updated by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022) aims to remove many of the barriers faced by youth experiencing homelessness or with experience in foster care. The new provisions for homeless and foster youth should go into effect for the 2023-2024 award year, and be reflected on the new FAFSA on October 1, 2022. Here's a summary of the changes.
read more
How to File Your Taxes for Free and Maximize your Refund
There is a lot of money that young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 are eligible for this tax year but you need to file your taxes to get this money $$$$$. Learn how to file your taxes for free and maximize your refund!
read more