1. Where Did You Sleep Last Night?
College students and Homelessness
Katie Swift, ProgramAdvising Center
Katie Swift, M.S., Program Advisor
Jaclyn Darrouzet-Nardi, M.A., Program Advisor-Lecturer
Academic Advising Center
The University of Texas at El Paso

2. Presentation Overview
Housing-Displaced College Students: An Invisible Population Barriers to Degree Completion Addressing Homelessness at UTEP: The FHAR Program Breakout Sessions Wrap-Up

3. Homeless College Students—An Invisible Population
There is very little research on college students and housing displacement.
About 58,000 students identified themselves as “independent homeless youth” on their FAFSA
A study conducted by California State University found nearly one in 10 CSU students is homeless or at-risk (Crutchfield 2016).
A San Diego State University study found that approximately one-third of community college students experience the threat of homelessness/housing instability (Wood, Harris, and Delgado 2016).
FAFSA added this option in 2013.
This number is undoubtedly low
Some students do not want to be identified as homeless
Some don’t think of themselves as homeless
Some do not complete the FAFSA.
Cal State: 500,000 students in the system; study indicates that 50,000 students in that system alone are housing displaced or insecure.
SDSU study included 3,547 students across seven colleges
Community college students: No access to dorms
71% of students with food insecurities and 74% with housing insecurities were in developmental math classes
These studies found that 12-20% of students experience food insecurity.
FHAR is one of few programs addressing homelessness among college students in Texas.

4. Homeless College Students—An Invisible Population
These students often do not fit the stereotypical image of homelessness.
“I had found ways to delicately balance my social life in college with the restrictions of being homeless, often leaving early from social outings with the excuse that I was tired or had to study, so that I could secure a place to sleep that night.”
-Taylor SJ, Vice magazine
“I don’t feel like just because I’m homeless that I have to look the part.”
-Ebony Ortega, KQED  
Students engage in impression management to avoid being perceived as homeless—contributes to their invisibility
Careful about clothing choices, personal hygiene
Manage schedules to avoid suspicion

5. Homelessness and Barriers to Degree Completion
Lack of Fixed, Adequate Housing
Hunger
Work Obligations
Lack of Support System
Lack of Reliable Transportation
Bureaucracy/Red Tape
Stress/Mental or Emotional Instability
Shame
“There are times when I don’t have access to a homeless shelter. Rooftops are a safe bet in such a circumstance. They protect you from view, keep you away from bugs and animals, and allow for both privacy and the peace of mind that is accompanied by privacy.”
-FHAR student
Homeless students must cope with excessive demands on their time, energy, and emotional stability
Housing
Some students may be able to sleep in shelters or transitional housing some or all of the time
Some live in their cars
Some couch-surf with friends and relatives
Some spend the night in public places (on busses, trains, in 24-hour businesses, on campus, parks, rooftops)
Securing a place to sleep can require a great deal of time and energy
Student must cope with the stress of not knowing where they’re going to sleep, or not feeling safe where they’re sleeping
Hunger
Work Obligations
Students must work to survive—FinAid covers only tuition and books
The typical homeless student works more than the average domiciled student = less time to study
Lack of Support System
These students often cannot rely on family
May not be “out” as homeless to their friends and other acquaintances
Lack of Reliable Transportation
Maintaining a car, buying gas = $$$
Busses = long commute times, can be unreliable, and student may not always have bus fare = absences
Bureaucracy/Red Tape
Imagine attempting to navigate a university system without the help of your parents
Establishing independent status requires extra work and coordination with multiple agencies/people
Stress/Mental or Emotional Instability
All of the above = stress
In addition, some students are coping with mental illness, histories of abuse/trauma
Shame
Shame around homelessness can be intense
Students may not seek help because they do not want to be identified as homeless—this means they are not accessing available resources

6. Foster/Homeless/Adopted Resources (FHAR)
Established in 2010 by an advisor with a background in social work Housed in the Academic Advising Center and run by a committee of professional advisors FHAR’s Mission: To connect foster, homeless, and adopted individuals through education and advocacy with resources that will assist holistically with their college experience.

7. Who We Serve
Students who aged out/were adopted out of foster care in the state of Texas
Eligible for tuition waiver through Department of Family and Protective Services
High school students identified as “unaccompanied youth” who are interested in coming to UTEP
Current students who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
Provide details of tuition waiver--what is it, who qualifies, who do we refer to?
High school students—FHAR does outreach in high schools and works with high school homeless liasons to facilitate these students’ transition to UTEP
We estimate the students we serves are 90% homeless or at risk, 10% foster/adopted

8. FHAR Services Assistance obtaining financial aid
Provide Independence Verification Letter for students who meet the definition of “homeless” under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987
McKinney-Vento defines “homelessness” as “[I]ndividuals who lack a fixed, regular, adequate nighttime residence.”
Refer to handout for specific examples

9. FHAR Services Cont’d Referrals to campus and community resources
School and personal hygiene supplies
Textbook library
Bus passes
Advocacy/Single point of contact
Academic advising

10. Special Partnerships Office of Financial Aid Office of Residence Life
UTEP Food Pantry
University Counseling Center
Dean of Students

11. Discussion Do you have any experience working with homeless students?
If yes, how did you know the student was homeless?
What kind of help did they need?
What did you do?
What resources exist on your campus/in your community that might be helpful to these students?

12. Indications of Homelessness
Student says they are couch-surfing/were kicked out
LGBTQ
Veterans
Student is carrying a lot of belongings
Student rarely changes their clothes/has hygiene issues
How do you begin this conversation with a student you suspect is homeless?
It may be an awkward conversation, but it’s worth trying.

13. How Advisors and Educators Can Help
Identify resources in your area
Shelters
Food pantries
Veterans’ Administration
Department of Family and Protective Services
Clinics with sliding scale fees
Mental health resources
LGBTQ organizations
Hotlines (LGBT National Help Center, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 211 Texas)

14. How Advisors and Educators Can Help
Offer walk-in availability
Consider bus schedules when planning events
Instructors and student organization advisors—don’t require students to make donations or purchase extra materials for your classes/events
Complete QPR suicide prevention training if available
Simplify everything—offer checklists and handouts with contact information
No judgments or assumptions

15. References
Crutchfield, R. (2016). Serving displaced and food Insecure Students in the CSU System. Retrieved from pdf
Klivens, L. and C. Feibel. (2016). Homeless U: How students study and survive on the streets. KQED News. Retrieved from
Taylor, S.J. (2015, July 22) This is what it’s like to be homeless in college. Vice. Retrieved from
Wood, J. L., Harris III, F., & Delgado, N. R. (2016). Struggling to survive – striving to succeed: Food and housing insecurities in the community college. San Diego, CA: Community College Equity Assessment Lab (CCEAL). Retrieved from