“Unaccompanied” means you are not living in the physical custody of your parent or guardian.

“Homeless” means lacking fixed, regular, and adequate housing. You may be homeless if you are living in shelters, parks, motels, hotels, public spaces, camping grounds, cars, abandoned buildings, or temporarily living with other people because you have nowhere else to go. Also, if you are living in any of these situations and fleeing an abusive parent, you may be considered homeless even if your parent would otherwise provide a place to live.

“At risk of being homeless” means housing may cease to be fixed, regular, and adequate. For example, if you are being evicted and have been unable to find fixed, regular, and adequate housing.

“Fixed, regular, and adequate”:

• Fixed—stationary, permanent, and not subject to change.

• Regular—used on a predictable, routine, or consistent basis.

• Adequate—sufficient for meeting both the physical and psychological needs typically met in the home.

You are not yet 24 years old.

A homeless youth determination from

• your high school or district homeless liaison or designee;

• the director or designee of an emergency or transitional shelter, street outreach program, homeless youth drop-in center, or another program serving those experiencing homelessness;

• the director or designee of a project supported by a federal TRIO program or a Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) grant;

• or a financial aid administrator.

If you do not already have a homeless youth determination, documentation of your circumstances from:

• Local school district personnel

• State homeless education coordinators

• The National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE)

• Third parties such as private or publicly funded homeless shelters and service providers

• College or high school counselors

• Mental health professionals, social workers, mentors, doctors, or clergy

A student may be experiencing unusual circumstances if they:

• Left home due to an abusive or threatening environment;

• Are abandoned by or estranged from their parents;

• Have refugee or asylee status and are separated from their parents, or their parents are displaced in a foreign country;

• Are a victim of human trafficking;

• Are incarcerated, or their parents are incarcerated, and contact with the parents would pose a risk to the student; or

• Are otherwise unable to contact or locate their parents