Strategies for Transitioning from High School to College

Postsecondary education is increasingly necessary for obtaining employment that pays enough to afford housing. It is a critical factor in ending the cycle of homelessness and improving the health, stability, and overall well-being of youth experiencing homelessness. 

The Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA) recognized the importance of postsecondary education for homeless students by amending the McKinney-Vento Act to improve the transition from high school to postsecondary education. Under the Act, local educational agency (LEA) homeless liaisons are required to ensure that unaccompanied homeless youth are informed of their status as independent students for college financial aid and obtain assistance to receive verification for the FAFSA. Additionally, state McKinney-Vento plans must describe how homeless youth will receive assistance from school counselors to improve their readiness for college.

The transition from secondary to postsecondary education can be challenging for any student, but especially for youth who have histories of trauma, mobility, and lack of family support. These challenges have been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. Teachers, counselors, McKinney-Vento liaisons, and service providers can play a key role in supporting the decision to go to college and assisting youth in the transition.

Supporting the Transition from Secondary to Postsecondary

K-12 Educators and McKinney-Vento Liaisons: 

• Reach out to McKinney-Vento eligible students as early as freshman year to schedule meetings to discuss postsecondary options (e.g. four-year institutions, community colleges, technical colleges, etc.). Continue meeting with these students throughout the year to answer questions, serve as a resource, and remind them of deadlines. Create a checklist to review each time you meet to keep them on track. Encourage McKinney-Vento students to read the U.S. Department of Education’s guide, “I Want to go to College: Now What?”
• Participate in the John Burton Advocates for Youth training course focused specifically on the transition from high school to college. 
• If students are interested in postsecondary education, make sure they take the ACT/SAT exams. Most low-income and homeless students will qualify for fee waivers (ACT & SAT). 
• Encourage all students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Even if students aren’t committed to postsecondary plans, it is important for them to fill out the FAFSA so they can receive financial aid if they do decide to attend higher education. There are a variety of scholarship opportunities for students, including our Youth Leadership & Scholarship Program. See more information about the FAFSA on our Financial Aid Tip Sheet or Financial Aid webpage. 
• Host a college tour. A college tour is a great way to experience college life first-hand and imagine oneself there. If a college tour isn’t feasible, host a panel of current homeless college students or alumni to talk about their experiences and answer questions. Read how one liaison hosted a “McKinney-Vento Opportunity Tour” and get ideas for how you might replicate her success.
• Be aware of state laws that offer in-state tuition, tuition, and fee waivers like Florida, California, and Maryland. For a full list of states, see our State Policy Resource. 
• Partner with college access programs and other higher education supports like the Dean of Students Office or TRIO Support Services. See our Pathways to Partnership: Higher Education guide for ideas.
• Create FAFSA Mentors or Graduation Coaches that help students experiencing homelessness stay on track with graduation, fill out the FAFSA, and create a plan after graduation. 
• Educate school staff (teachers, counselors, social workers, and graduation coaches) on the services and opportunities available to McKinney-Vento students by hosting annual trainings. Read the National Center for Homeless Education’s brief on School Counselor Supports for College Preparation and Readiness for Students experiencing Homelessness.

Homeless Service Providers: 

• Offer opportunities within the shelter to learn more about postsecondary options. Emphasize the importance of finishing high school and pursuing a postsecondary degree. 
• Advertise when local college fairs are in the area. 
• Support youth in completing college applications and FAFSA forms and provide documents to assist unaccompanied homeless youth with independent student determinations. See more on our Financial Aid Tip Sheet or Financial Aid webpage. 
• Familiarize yourself with higher education timelines and deadlines. Start introducing offices and support programs early on from the Pathways to Partnership: Higher Education guide.

Other Strategies: 

• Seek out local opportunities that help college-bound students prepare for college, like the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education’s college starter kits that provide essential items (laptop, luggage, school supplies, hygiene items, etc.) to high school graduates. 
• Share resources tailored for youth, like those listed on SchoolHouse Connection’s Youth Connection page. 

Strategies for Housing On and Off Campus

Youth homelessness is a widespread problem, including on college campuses. A national survey from Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago found that 3.5 million (1 in 10) young adults between the ages of 18-25 experienced homelessness over a twelve-month period. According to follow-up interviews, 29% of the young adults who experienced homelessness were enrolled in college or another educational program at the time that they experienced homelessness. According to a report published in March 2021 by the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice, in the 12 months prior to the survey, 14% of survey respondents experienced homelessness. 

Stable housing is a critical support for homeless youth to be successful in their pursuit of higher education, but housing options on college campuses vary between institutions. Some schools may have live-in requirements, while other schools, typically community colleges, provide no housing at all. Federal housing programs provide minimal support due to restrictions for college students and shortages in subsidized housing. Student housing can offer some reprieve; however, it is not necessarily less expensive than off-campus options. Even when student housing is cheaper than off-campus housing, the supply of student housing often does not meet demand. 

Colleges around the country have been addressing these housing needs through their Residential Life and Housing offices and by partnering with community agencies. This tip sheet provides a snapshot of current strategies and considerations for practice and policy.

Housing During Academic Breaks:

Many schools close for weeks at a time during academic breaks, which commonly occur at fall break, winter, spring break, and summer. During these breaks, students for whom returning “home” is not an option lose access to residence halls, academic buildings, dining halls, and more. The stress of seeking a place to stay and the dangers of homelessness during breaks are serious impediments to academic success.

Strategies to provide housing during academic breaks include:

• Provide access to year-round housing on campus for students in need. West Chester University’s Promise Program supports students with access to year-round housing on campus as well as food and supplies from the Resource Pantry. 
• Plan ahead for particularly vulnerable students. Students whose families are homeless, are homeless and on their own, or are from foster care, are particularly vulnerable to these housing problems. Schools can be proactive and identify these students by partnering with Admissions, Financial Aid, EOP, EOPS, Disabled Youth Services, Foster Youth Programs, and programs for undocumented or migrant family students to work with students in advance to develop a plan for housing during these break closures. For example, the California State University and California Community College systems include a question in their application where students can self-identify that they are homeless. From this information, schools can provide outreach to students in advance, connect them to resources, and also find programs for which they may be eligible.
• Keep residence halls open during breaks. Rowan University adopted this strategy and includes the weekly usage fee in their room and board cost. While other campuses may charge a fee for individual students who want to stay during breaks, this fee might be paid by a department or office if a student is employed and needs to be on campus during this time. 
• Partner with hotels and consider buying out a few rooms for students. Georgetown University has a hotel on campus and provides housing for students in need over winter break. Learn about how several colleges have transformed hotels to residence halls. 
• Utilize the campus community and request that local faculty, staff, and alumni host students. Sacramento State’s Host a Hornet matches interested alumni with students for dinner a few times a month. Neighborhood churches have also opened their homes to students who are homeless or hungry. 
• Because most dining halls close during breaks, ensure students have food over breaks by donating food, providing food in common area kitchens, or coordinating faculty, staff, and alumni to provide meals. Another example is to use meal sharing like at CSU, Long Beach’s Feed A Need program. 
• During the summer, help homeless students maintain their housing by providing on-campus jobs that pay for their summer housing. A few institutions allow students to stay in their rooms all year if they are part of a specific program like the Guardian Scholars Program at San Diego State University. 
• Be open to creative solutions, like partnering with an assisted living home. For example, in Winona Health’s intergenerational Students in Residence Program, students pay a low monthly rent and have access to the facilities and meals at the assisted living home. In return, the students volunteer to assist the residents. 
• Community colleges can partner with four-year institutions that have residence halls like the Massachusetts Student Housing Security Pilot. The four-year institution offers up to five beds for students at the community college who are experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.

Emergency Housing:

Emergencies can cause homelessness and prevent students from staying in school. Emergencies might include facilities problems, family problems, medical issues, conduct concerns, and roommate conflicts. 

• Establish an emergency housing program. College’s Residential Living and Housing can keep a few rooms and spaces available as temporary housing for individuals facing emergency housing problems, as well as students experiencing homelessness. Sacramento State has a robust emergency housing program that provides short-term housing assistance to students for up to 30 days in the residence halls. This time period allows students and the crisis manager to plan and arrange for long-term housing. Students may also receive a meal plan that provides two meals a day. Learn more about their program by watching this archived webinar. 
• Offer emergency aid through grants or loans to help students pay utility bills, rent, or motel rooms as temporary shelter during academic breaks. For more information about emergency aid, see here. 

Community Partnerships:

Partnerships with community agencies are an important way to build housing options for homeless students. 

• Seek out community nonprofits and shelters that have expertise in serving youth and young adults experiencing homelessness. For example, Jovenes College Success Initiative uses a college focused rapid-rehousing model that provides a rental subsidy and case management to youth who are homeless and attend local community colleges.
• Partner with volunteers in the community who open their homes to students. Depaul University’s partnership with the Dax Program matches volunteers for a host-home option where students can stay for a 12 week period. Since the host-home program began, they have expanded to provide housing to current Depaul students by paying a small fee. 
• Create College Housing Plans to successfully place students in housing environments that support higher education. Read how Dorm Room Dreamz did this to address college homelessness in Louisiana.
• Consider cooperative living like at the Southern Scholarship Foundation in Florida, where students with similar backgrounds live together to cook, clean, and manage a household budget while housing is provided for free. 
• Replicate Massachusetts Moving to College pilot program designed to support unaccompanied homeless youth as they transition to and through a college education. These scholarships are funded through HUD’s Moving to Work program. The program offers year-round, on-campus housing, meal plans, case management support, and other support services. 

Other Strategies:

• Create a multi-disciplinary homeless task force on campus to help facilitate referrals between staff on campus and streamline service coordination. Task forces can include a wide variety of staff who assist students experiencing homelessness (e.g. Financial Aid, EOPS, Health Services, Admissions, Social Work, Academic Counseling, Disabled Student Services). The Economic Crisis Response Team at San Diego State University offers short and long-term aid quickly and without stigmatization. 
• Create and disseminate a list of local resources, including campus, nonprofit, and government resources like at Ventura Community College. Include this list in marketing materials for incoming and current students experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, and/or financial challenges. 
• Create a space for students experiencing homelessness to live and build community together, like the ASCEND Living Learning Community (LLC) at Kennesaw State University. 
• Students at California’s Long Beach Community College can sleep in their vehicles at a secure on-campus parking structure overnight. Students will have access to restrooms and Wi-Fi throughout the night and can use showers on campus. 
• Tap into local alumni and consider host home options. The University of Utah is offering local alumni $5,000 per semester to board students. 
• Incentivize students to live off-campus in privately owned housing to increase on-campus housing capacity for students in need. The University of Cincinnati is offering a $2,500 incentive and free on-campus parking for students. 

Current and Pending Laws & Policies: 

Some states have laws that provide priority housing to youth experiencing homelessness and those who have been in foster care. In addition to priority housing, in some states, higher education homeless liaisons work with students to provide housing over break periods. We describe some of these laws below. 

California AB 801 – Each postsecondary educational institution must designate a staff member to serve as the homeless and foster student liaison, responsible for informing students about financial aid and other assistance available to them, such as housing.

California SB 85 – This law aims to reduce homelessness and hunger across all three California public higher education systems. Signed into law in June 2017, the bill allocated $7.5 million in support of Hunger-Free College Campuses. Each system was awarded $2.5 million to expand the fight against student hunger, raise awareness of services currently offered, and develop practices and procedures to provide further assistance to students in need. 

California AB 1228 – Requires state university campuses and asks community colleges and University of California campuses to give former foster youth and current/former homeless youth priority access to student housing, especially student housing that is available year-round (at no additional cost). The law also requests that each campus create a housing plan for these student groups to ensure they can access housing all year, even during academic breaks. 

California AB 74 – In the 2019-20 State Budget, $19 million was allocated annually to California’s three public post-secondary institutions for Rapid Rehousing programs to assist homeless college students. Campuses must use this funding to establish partnerships with organizations that have expertise in helping people experiencing homelessness and provide wrap-around services and rental subsidies for students. 

Louisiana HB 906 – Each public postsecondary education institution in the state must designate a homeless and foster student liaison within its financial aid office. The liaisons are responsible for applying federal financial aid rules related to youth experiencing homelessness (or who have experienced homelessness at any time over the six years prior to enrollment) and youth who were in foster care for at least six months between ages 16 and 18.

Nevada AB 461 (2019) – This legislation creates a Liaison for Post-Secondary Education for Homeless Pupils in the Nevada System of Higher Education. The Liaison will establish a plan for housing students experiencing homelessness when campus housing is not available.

Tennessee HB 1000 / SB 763 – Each post-secondary institution in the state that offers housing resources must develop a plan to provide students experiencing homelessness access to housing resources during and between academic terms. The plan must include granting students experiencing homelessness first priority in housing placement and placing those students in housing that remains open the most days of the year.

Proposed legislation: Higher Education Access and Success For Foster and Homeless Youth Act (HEASHFY) – This bipartisan federal bill requires institutions of higher education to develop a housing plan for homeless and foster students to access campus housing resources during and between academic terms.

Strategies for Creating and Sustaining Campus-Based Programs

Youth experiencing homelessness face many barriers to completing their postsecondary education, from not meeting basic needs to lacking academic support. In recognition of these barriers, institutions of higher education are beginning to create support programs for homeless students on campus.  These programs vary by institution and may also serve other or overlapping vulnerable student populations, including students from foster care, undocumented students, or other low-income, first-generation students. Some of the most robust campus-based programs are comprised of multi-sector partnerships to help students to thrive in college and beyond. This tip sheet reviews the core components of successful campus-based programs and provides suggestions for creating or improving programs.

Core Components of Campus-Based Programs for Homeless and Other Vulnerable Students

• One-On-One Case Management Advising: Some programs provide case managers  to assess individual needs and provide tailored assistance. Case managers work with students to develop an individualized plan of action and provide appropriate resources and referrals for basic needs and academic supports. For example, case managers can work with students to locate and secure long-term housing solutions and provide follow-up support post crisis to ensure students are stable. 
• Emergency Housing: Some campus-based programs offer temporary and/or emergency housing. Whether through Residential Life and Housing or through local shelters, motels, and hotels, students benefit from the stopgap of temporary housing while working to find a more permanent solution with help from case managers, liaisons, and other support staff. For more information on Emergency Housing, see our Tip Sheet.   
• Food Pantry/Basic Needs: Food pantries address food insecurity on many college campuses and typically run on donations from the campus community or outside organizations. While most products may be non-perishable, offer fresh fruits and vegetables and other vegetarian/vegan/dietary options. Some institutions like MassBay Community College even offer food scholarships . Other schools have expanded their food bank and pantry offerings by becoming more broad as a basic needs office which includes toiletries, feminine hygiene products, child care supplies, and school supplies.
• Emergency Aid: Some institutions offer emergency aid programs that provide short-term financial assistance to students who are in crisis. These programs may have specific  eligibility requirements, such as  a specified minimum GPA, consideration of an existing financial aid package, and attained credits. Schools often place limitations on how and how often emergency grants can be spent and the amount that can be requested. The Stay Mason Fund at George Mason University allows students to use emergency funds for tuition, housing, rent, medical bills, and more. All CUNY schools have access to The Carroll and Milton Petrie Student Emergency Grant Fund, which provides quick response grants to students in crisis. To learn more about emergency aid programs, see our resource on How Emergency Aid Can Prevent Homelessness Among College Students. 
• Academic Advising: Students experiencing homelessness or from foster care often have limited academic preparation and can experience difficulty completing specific courses to graduate on time. Academic advisors can help students navigate this system and offer career advice. If a student is struggling, advisors can connect students with  tutoring programs, facilitate meetings with professors during office hours, or advise schedule changes as necessary. 
• Financial Aid Assistance: Most students experiencing homelessness or from foster care rely on financial aid to attend college. It is critical for them to secure their financial aid package on time every year. The most successful campus support programs have strong partnerships with the financial aid office to remind students of deadlines, work with them individually to fill out the FAFSA, and if applicable, help them receive independent student status as an unaccompanied homeless youth, foster youth, or other category of independent student. For more information on financial aid support, see our Tip Sheet.  
• Mental Health Services: From the pandemic, there has been an increase in mental health services. Ensure students experiencing homelessness have access to mental health services on-campus. The University of Florida has a wide array of mental health services available which can be in-person or through Zoom.    

Strategies for Creating or Improving Campus-Based Programs for Homeless and Other Vulnerable Students

Institutions of higher education may already implement one or more of the core components described above. However, these existing services or programs may not be intentional about reaching out to, and meeting the specific needs of youth who are experiencing homelessness. In addition, disparate components may not be coordinated into an accessible, unified program or branded with a recognizable name that effectively advertises available resources and solicits community contributions.  Some states have passed laws requiring colleges to provide support for students experiencing homelessness–but legislation certainly isn’t necessary for institutions to put supports in place. The following strategies can help create services where none exist or build upon existing services.

1. Designate a Higher Education Homeless Liaison

Higher education liaisons often act as a catalyst for the creation or expansion of campus-based programs. A higher education liaison for homeless students, sometimes called a “Single Point of Contact,” is a person tasked with identifying resources available to students experiencing homelessness, informing students about these resources, and helping with application processes. A higher education liaison also can serve as a direct handoff with K-12 McKinney-Vento homeless liaisons. Designating an individual to focus on homeless students, and sometimes students from foster care, is considered a best practice that has been implemented at many institutions. Related best practices include:

• Provide training for a designated liaison to learn about homelessness and associated trauma and to get ideas for supporting students from other higher education liaisons across the country. See more tips for homeless higher education liaisons here. 
• Send an introductory email with the liaison’s contact information to all students who have self-identified as homeless on the FAFSA or through voluntary questions on college applications. 
• Provide a list of homeless higher education liaisons’ contact information across the state, such as  the California Community College system or University of Georgia system. 
• Identify and train specific points of contact in campus offices, such as at the University of South Florida, about homelessness and ask them to accept and solicit referrals from the higher education liaison so that students are supported by a network of people who are educated about homelessness. 

2. Raise Awareness of Homelessness in Higher Education

Raising awareness of homelessness not only brings attention and attracts resources to address the issue, but also reduces stigma and helps educators and community members understand its often hidden prevalence. Some ideas for raising awareness and catalyzing action include:

• Conduct a climate survey to better estimate the number of students experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, and other financial hardships, like the Food and Housing Insecurity Among NC State Students initiative. 
• Host a homelessness and hunger awareness week on campus. 
• Be strategic when locating food pantries/basic needs centers on campus: are they centralized or hidden? 
• Discuss available services during on-campus tours, orientation, and programs throughout the year. 
• Encourage students to support each other by empowering student-led advocacy. 
• View more outreach strategies for students here.

3. Pursue Partnerships On and Off Campus

Multi-sector partnerships can help students get the support they need to thrive in college and beyond. Here, we describe several ways that on- and off-campus programs can complement one another to more holistically serve students experiencing homelessness. 

• McKinney-Vento K-12 liaisons – Under federal law, every local educational agency must designate a liaison for homeless children and youth. These individuals are charged with identifying homeless students, supporting them throughout high school, and enabling verification of independent student status on the FAFSA for unaccompanied homeless youth pursuing postsecondary education. Working with K-12 liaisons can ensure a smooth transition to higher education. 
• Shelters and Homeless Services – It is important for campus staff to be knowledgeable about local shelters and homeless assistance programs that are appropriate for young adults. These programs may be able to provide short-term housing and provide stability for students to continue college. 
• Food Pantries/Basic Needs Offices – If there is a food pantry/basic needs office on campus, know its location and hours. If there isn’t one on campus, find and establish relationships with local food banks/pantries by using the Feeding America’s food bank locator.
• Financial Aid – Establish a relationship with financial aid administrators who can help students fill out the FAFSA and provide verification of their homeless/foster status if necessary. 
• Residence Life and Housing – Work with individuals in Residence Life/Housing to secure housing for students on campus if available.  Establish an emergency housing program that students can use throughout the school year and during breaks. For more information, see our Housing Tip Sheet. 
• Student Support Offices – Offices like TRIO, Dean of Students, Student Health, Counseling and Mental Health Services, EOP/S, and others are great partners and advocates for homeless and foster youth. Make sure these offices are connected to homelessness initiatives. 

4. Enhance Existing Programs 

• Reach out to Kennesaw State University to utilize their KSU CARES Roadmap program. This multi-level program works with colleges and universities directly to build or enhance their program to support special populations like students with experience in homelessness or foster care.  
• Create a case management guide specifically for your school, similar to the John Burton Advocates for Youth Check-In Guide.  
• Collaborate with Residential Life and Housing to keep residence halls open during break periods. For more information, see our Housing Tip Sheet.
• Partner with organizations that repurpose food or turn them into frozen meals like Food For Free and Daniel’s Table. 
• Allow students to give up meal swipes to students in need of dining hall meals like at UCSC Swipes for Slugs. Swipe Out Hunger started at UCLA and has expanded nationally by partnering with colleges where students can donate their extra meal swipes to their peers. 
• Match first-year students with upperclassmen and create a homeless peer mentorship program similar to that at Middle Tennessee State University’s Next Step Mentor program. Likewise, faculty and staff can also serve as mentors to help students navigate college life like at Florida International University’s Fostering Panther Pride Program.
• Rather than giving out book vouchers or purchasing textbooks for students, create a lending library like at Imperial Valley College. They found out that students were more likely to borrow a book and return it for another student to use rather than accepting book vouchers. 

5. Be Intentional About Advertising Programs and Services

Campus-based programs may have limited effectiveness if students aren’t aware of resources, don’t know how to access them, or choose not to access them due to stigma. According to a national report analyzing emergency aid programs, most grants, loans, vouchers, etc. are not widely advertised. Higher education professionals acknowledged that more students would benefit from knowing about emergency aid, but they expressed a concern that increased marketing could result in student demand that would outweigh existing resources. Word-of-mouth, followed by targeted communication to certain student populations, are the primary methods of disseminating information, yet these methods limit students’ ability to access resources. To improve access while honoring students’ dignity, we recommend some of the following strategies:

• Implement campus-based initiatives that are available to the whole campus community, including students, faculty, and staff. 
• Provide private places where students can meet, if desired. 
• Integrate services and resources to prospective students during the campus tour and admissions to normalize and welcome students who might worry about not belonging because of their financial barriers.  

6. Be Creative about Strategies for Funding Campus-Based Programs

Most campus-based support programs are funded by individual donors, foundations, or an operational budget. However, new sources of funding may be necessary to keep up with increasing demand. Staffing may be another challenge, especially if responsibilities are added to existing roles. To manage these challenges, we suggest the following tactics:

• Targeted outreach to alumni. No more than 2% of institutions in an emergency aid study reported alumni giving as a primary funding source for emergency aid. 
• Allow employees to donate using an employee payroll deduction form like at Kennesaw State University. Kennesaw also has a tiered-sponsorship opportunity for faculty, alumni, or other friends of the institution. 
• Partner with a local restaurant to host a fundraising event. 
• Host a 5K or other race event where proceeds go towards campus-based funding. 
• Some campuses are purposefully staffing their office with graduate students. At CSULB, their Student Emergency Intervention and Wellness Program is staffed with Masters of Social Work students. These students, supervised by experienced professionals, might need required internships as a part of their graduate programs and come as an unfunded but proactive labor force. Another option is to check in with your local AmeriCorps Vista program for volunteers. 

7. Include Students in Building Programs 

• Incorporate student leadership in initiatives. Student governments across the nation are assisting in the development of programs and services. Sacramento State’s student government, Association Students Inc (ASI), offers childcare and a food pantry for students in need.  
• Make sure that students are represented in task forces or working groups that are helping build or shape these support programs. 
• University of Michigan students created a “Not-Rich Guide at UM” that many other institutions have replicated on their own campuses. Work with the students who are creating this guide to provide resources and find the missing gaps in services. 
• Pay students for their services or offer stipends when they participate in speaking events, conferences, or more. 
• Learn more about students’ needs on our Youth Connection Page. 

Examples of Comprehensive Support Programs 

Below are some great examples of comprehensive support programs that have partnerships with resources on- and off-campus. The infographics from Kennesaw State University and CSU Long Beach provide “at-a-glance” overviews of their comprehensive programs.

• Kennesaw State University’s CARE Program 
• Florida State University’s Unconquered Scholars Program 
• Sacramento State’s Case Management Office 
• University of California, Santa Cruz’s Slug Support Services 
• CSU, Long Beach Basic Needs Program
• West Chester University’s Promise Program 
• Middle Tennessee State University’s Next Step Program