Removing Barriers, Building Futures: A New Data Report on College Student Homelessness

Replay the Webinar About the Webinar Higher education is one of the most powerful engines of economic mobility. When students experiencing homelessness are able to enroll and persist, complete credentials, and enter the workforce with stability, the benefits extend to families, communities, and the nation. Yet college student homelessness is under-identified and distinct in its impacts. A new data analysis compares students who have experienced homelessness with their peers -- and with first-generation students -- and finds that homelessness is associated with deeper and more layered hardship that can derail persistence and completion. The findings underscore that standard “basic needs” supports or first-generation initiatives may not be sufficient on their own to reach students experiencing homelessness, and that intentional identification…

Build Successful High School to College Transitions for Students Experiencing Homelessness

Replay the Webinar About the Webinar Students experiencing homelessness face significant barriers transitioning from high school to higher education. This webinar features the success story of Cincinnati Public Schools' Project Connect and the University of Cincinnati as they share their groundbreaking collaboration that's transforming college success for students experiencing homelessness. When Project Connect discovered their students were getting into college but struggling to stay enrolled, they partnered with UC's student support services to bridge this critical gap. From this webinar, participants: Learn how to identify and address the unique barriers students experiencing homelessness face during the transition from high school to higher education Discover practical strategies for building collaborative partnerships between K-12 district sand higher education institutions Explore the key…

Understanding Immigration Status and Financial Aid Eligibility

Replay the Webinar About the Webinar Navigating financial aid can be a confusing process for refugees, immigrants, mixed-status families, and other forcibly displaced youth. While their experiences may overlap in some ways with unaccompanied homeless youth, there are distinct differences. In this webinar, participants hear from the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education, gain an understanding of how various immigration statuses affect access to financial aid, and explore both the similarities and distinctions compared to the experience of unaccompanied homeless youth. Presenters: Caleb McKay, FAAC - FAFSA Completion Senior Manager, SchoolHouse Connection Corinne Kentor, Ph.D. - Senior Manager of Research and Policy, Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration Companion Resource Explore this practical guide intended to help high school counselors…

FAFSA 2026–2027: Strategies to Support Unaccompanied Homeless Youth and Foster Youth

Learn how to support students experiencing homelessness through the 2026–2027 FAFSA process. Discover who qualifies as a homeless youth, required documentation, and strategies to help unaccompanied students complete their FAFSA and access higher education.

Expanding College Access with the Common App

Replay the Webinar About the Webinar The Common App is an online application platform used by over 1,000 colleges and universities worldwide. It allows students to complete a single application that can be submitted to multiple participating institutions. By streamlining the college application process, the Common App helps make higher education more accessible for all students, especially those experiencing homelessness. This webinar explores how high school counselors and liaisons can use the Common App to support students applying to college, including unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness, and address frequently asked questions. Presenters: Jillian Sitjar - Director of Higher Education, SchoolHouse Connection Michaela Alcorn - Manager of Counselor Engagement, Common App

Helping Students Navigate FAFSA Identity Verification

Replay the Webinar Date & Time Recorded: August 6, 2025 (1-1:45 PM Eastern)The U.S. Department of Education has announced a new system for verifying students' identities when submitting the FAFSA, set to launch in fall 2025. In the interim, more students will be selected for identity verification during the summer in order to receive financial aid. This process is separate from unaccompanied homeless youth determinations, yet these youth may face additional challenges and barriers to obtaining documents needed for ID verification. In this webinar, participants: Gain a clear understanding of the current identity verification process Explore a new resource designed to support students selected for identity verification Develop strategies to assist youth with obtaining an ID Presenters: Jillian Sitjar - Director…

FAFSA and Homeless Youth: Scenarios and Solutions

Replay the Webinar **Please note: For students to be considered independent through a legal guardianship, they must either currently be in a legal guardianship or were in legal guardianship at the time they reached the age of majority in their state of residence.** Date & Time Recorded: August 27, 2025 (2-3 PM Eastern) Identifying students as homeless on the FAFSA can be complex. To qualify, students must be unaccompanied (not living with their parents or legal guardian) and experiencing homelessness, or unaccompanied and at risk of homelessness and self-supporting. This webinar walks participants through real-world scenarios to help professionals assess whether students meet this criteria. In this webinar, participants: Explore real-life scenarios submitted in advance to be reviewed and addressed during…

Navigating Financial Aid for Refugees and Unaccompanied Homeless Youth: Understanding Key Differences

Replay the Webinar Date & Time: March 26, 2025 (2-3:15 PM Eastern) There are many misconceptions surrounding financial aid for refugees and other forcibly displaced people. While there may be some overlaps between these two populations, from a financial aid perspective, there are also clear and distinct differences. In this webinar, participants learn about different immigration statuses that are eligible for federal aid, how to read common immigration documents, how to answer frequently asked questions from this student population, and how these issues differ from those affecting unaccompanied homeless youth. Presenters: Maritza De Savornin Lohman - High School and Post-Secondary Lead Instructor, HIAS Pennsylvania Caleb McKay - FAFSA Completion Senior Manager, SchoolHouse Connection Jillian Sitjar - Director of Higher Education,…