The Visual Guide to Assist Homeless Youth with Completing the FAFSA provides a step-wise guide to completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Unaccompanied youth who are homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless as of July 1st of the year prior to the award year, are eligible for “independent student status” on the FAFSA. This means that a student does not have to provide any parental information, including income information, and is key to ensuring homeless students are awarded need-based financial aid. This guide provides detailed instructions for completing the entire FAFSA, with special attention on how to ensure eligible homeless youth are granted independent student status.

October 2019