Can a Student Be Considered Homeless Or At Risk Of Homelessness If They Have a Relationship Or Contact With Their Parents?

Scenario: A student moved into a homeless shelter when the dorms closed for spring break because they missed the deadline to stay on campus. They used that documentation to complete the FAFSA as an independent student even though they have a good relationship with their parents.

Answer: Having a relationship with one’s parents does not disqualify a student from being 1) an unaccompanied homeless youth; or (2) unaccompanied, self-supporting, and at risk of being homeless. In fact, the following circumstances do not disqualify a student from being homeless or at risk of homelessness:

• Being in contact with their parent(s);
• Being in the custody of their parent(s);
• Providing parental data on the FAFSA; or
• Listing the parents' address on the FAFSA or other documents.

Regardless of their age and the reason, applicants who are homeless or at risk of homelessness qualify for a homeless youth determination and will be considered independent students on the FAFSA. It does not matter why the student is homeless or at risk of homelessness, so schools should not ask why the student is homeless or at risk of homelessness. While we certainly understand the desire to question why the student does not live with their parents, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) has indicated that it is not appropriate for the financial aid administrator (FAA) to question why the student is homeless or does not live with their parents. In other words, it does not matter that the student may be choosing not to live with their parents. It also does not matter if the student is still using the parent's address as their mailing address. It also doesn't matter if the student does not want to go to a homeless shelter or receive help from any source related to homelessness.

The fact that the student has contact with their parent does not necessarily mean that the student would not meet the homeless or at risk of homelessness criterion. For example, a student fleeing an abusive parent and without fixed, regular, and adequate housing may be considered homeless even though the student’s parent would provide support and a place to live. The same is true even if the parents still have custody of the student.

An FAA should only question the student’s status if conflicting information is present. Otherwise, the FAA should only document the fact that the student is homeless or at risk of homelessness for Title IV purposes according to the following definitions: 

• Homeless children and youths: Section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (McKinney-Vento) [42 U.S.C. 11434a], “homeless children and youths” are defined as “individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.” The term includes:
  • Children and youth who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; or are awaiting foster care placement;
  • Children and youth who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;
  • Children and youth who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and
  • Migratory children who qualify as homeless because the children are living in circumstances described above.
• Unaccompanied youth: McKinney-Vento further defines the term “unaccompanied youth” as “youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.” To be considered an unaccompanied homeless youth, an individual must meet both of these definitions.
• At risk of being homeless: This occurs a student’s housing may cease to be fixed, regular, and adequate, such as 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: This occurs when a student pays for his or her own living expenses, which includes paying for fixed, regular, and adequate housing.

If the student does not have a determination from one of the entities listed below, you, the FAA, must make the determination. The FAA must use their best judgment to determine only whether the student is homeless or an unaccompanied youth at risk of being homeless. NASFAA cannot make this determination on the FAA's behalf, so they should follow the guidance under "Unaccompanied Homeless Youth" in Chapter 5 of the Application and Verification Guide (AVG) volume of the FSA Handbook, as well as in and Dear Colleague Letter GEN-23-06.

Remember that, if the student already has a determination of homelessness or at risk of homelessness from one of the following authorities, the school must accept that determination and cannot request additional documentation or statements unless there is conflicting information in the information that is provided to the school:

• A local educational agency homeless liaison, as designated by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 USC 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii))), or a designee of the liaison;
• The director or designee 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 or designee of a program funded under subtitle B of title IV of McKinney-Vento (relating to emergency shelter grants) (42 U.S.C. 11371 et seq.);
• The director or designee of a Federal TRIO program or a Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate program (GEAR UP) grant; or
• An FAA at another institution who documented the student’s circumstance in the same or a prior award year.

Note: Effective with the 2023-24 award year, any student determined to be independent due to homelessness for a preceding award year shall be presumed to be independent for each subsequent award year at the same institution, unless the student indicates a change in circumstances or unless conflicting information exists in the student's file. Reference Section 479A(c)(2)(D)(iv) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended, [20 USC 1087TT]. Given these new provisions, FAAs should not need to obtain documentation to confirm a student’s status from year to year.

Tools: Refer to the following tools to assist with this student population:

• Tip Sheet for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth (UHY)
• Homelessness--Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Determinations: 2023-24 Template
• Homelessness--Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Determinations: 2024-25 Template

Student Aid Reference Desk: For additional information, try the Student Aid Reference Desk. It is a central hub of all the important financial aid resources you need with direct links to legislation, regulation, Dear Colleague Letters, and other ED and NASFAA references. It is updated on a rolling basis with the latest news and changes.