2025-26 Audit and Reporting Guidelines Format Final- Harsha

Page 2 .. Unaccompanied Homeless ... .natcamplliii � d Ho.mt':tle. � s Youth Determinations De.termin tions

Fina,lly Finally, HEA s--ection 480(d)(1){l·-lW,-(iv Hction 4E!0(d) 1) HHi)-( � 1) provides that a claim of being be:ir.g an unaccompanied homeless youth unaccompanle.dhome les-s y-o th, or unac.oompanied, at ·sk.of homelessness, unscoompa:nied, a.·r-is.k of orri. lessn@s � . and self- supporting :s.elf � upporting, must be ve 1 rified ibe verified by a local educational educati'Onal agency (LEA {lE ) homeless liaison, designated pursual'lit to Ii ls:on, dHlgnated pI rsua t 1o section 722 ( � g }( )(1)(J )( ) ii) of McKinney-Vento ( ,42 U . ,S.C. 11432 { (g}(1)(J )Hi)), )(ii ), the director of a program pro-gram funded under the Runaway and Home[ Homer:ess Youth Act Ad (RHYA ). ,, 42 U.S.C u.s.c. 5701 et seq., : e·t � -, or a deslgnee oft.he director, the direc1orof a pr<>gram funded undeir subtitle,B oftitle IV crf McKinney-Vento (relatrng to emergency shelter grants} (42.U.S.C.. 11371 et seq..} o.r a designee de$1gnee of the director, or a inancial aid administrator (FAA}. the director ot a progrom l\.!ric:ied 1,Ju1i;l � r � 1,1btitli:eBi of iitle IV of McKinney Vent , o r"elaiHng to emergency Applying for Title IV Aid ::,helter 9m.ti1!?.} (4i. u.s.c. 11 � 71 et !lleq.} o,r a dooignee of he dire,ctm, or a financial aid admlnle'.rator (FAA). The FAFSA inc:ludes questions F AFS.A iridude s q 11 � :s1iom; to determine d � te.rm irie if an appliGant ippkan'l is. an unaccompan:1ea homeles.s al't: ..naccomp � n1ed homele � ·youth Qrat risk or at ri!;ik of beooming beocming an unaccompanied hom � !ese. youth, unac:>oompaniec:I om ��� :.5- yo1.Jth. lo questioris 56, 6 7. and q1,1estii:i • ri1/5i 6, 5,7,:,nd 58 en the 2O15- on, 6ie 2016,-2016 FAFSA, applicants appli �� mts are asked 3!$ked whether they have tr1ey h � ve been determined deteirmi ed to be an u ,. accompanied homeless •• cc{)rrtpanie.d ho el ss youth by .a school dismct homeless liaison, schC1ol dis,·ct homeiess li'ai:son, ,or a Housing and Urban D@v8lopment hom elesss assfstanee De\l'elopment homiele:ss assi:s.tam:e program dir,eotor direct.or funded under McKinney:..Vento McKinn.ey.Ve-n o or RHYA. Institutions are ate not .required rnquirsd to verify l;"JG(ify the answers to the ansmrii to 1he- homeless youth questions; hO'Wever, 'fouth questloM; ho veve-,in instances i1staooe.s where lhe institution has oonfJicting information, a documentw Ur,e 1stil1.1tion h � s oonflic � ing info meitioo, a do4;:umente.d phone call or a w- • ri ten statemenl from the r:elevant authority is sufficient.. cpll i,n1, Wfiten $ � 1ernentfrom th,:r, rel � v;ilnt � 1,1tnority i'.\1. sl)ffi,·:::"erit It is i:;i not confllcHng information If conflicting info mation if an FM d'ls � gree:sw'1th :an FAA.disagrees with ari authority's determination that.a d t rmi atio lhal.a student is homeless.. h amel ss. :If an FAA balil,ves beli "'6S the authority au horiry is incorrect or abu:sjng ab uaing the process, the FM proc � s. tl1e FAA should contact Hie • relevant over-sight o::intact e relevanl oversighl party to evaluate e.val1Jale the determinatton determination.

We are aware ar"s a � tare that sorne institutions are unnecessarily recstricting applicants' acc.ess si::une IMtjtu � ioris are un:nec:essarily re!S-tricting applic:ant.s' aoces.s to

Tab 11C – 2015 Dear Colleague Letter Homeless Youth

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Updated 10/01/2023