FAU protects homeless and foster kids students

According to Florida Atlantic University figures, 53 homeless and 125 former foster youth students are enrolled this fall.

All FAU students have a “safety net” of advocacy services, but one group has been dealt a tough hand. Verified homeless or former foster care students can receive tuition and aid waivers.

A college student who is homeless can receive a Homeless Fee Exemption waiver that covers all tuition under Florida Statute 1009.25. However, the FAU Dean of Students must verify them each semester.

Student homelessness is defined by Florida law as “a student who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence, or whose primary nighttime residence is a public or private shelter designed to provide temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized, or a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human

The same Florida legislation exempts former foster youth students from tuition and some material expenses through the Department of Children & Families (DCF).

The waiver states that DCF will fund students who were adopted after May 5, 1997, or spent at least six months in their custody after turning 16. The waiver lasts until the student turns 28.

A student who has been homeless or fostered may be informed of resources by school officials. If their living situation changes, students can apply for the waiver or support programs as homeless.

Higher education leaders can benefit homeless or former foster youngsters by having been there.

A such example is FAU alum Matthew Patterson. Due to substance abuse, Patterson dropped out of college in 2005 while homeless. A failing marriage and sexuality issues drove him to sadness.

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While at South Florida gay clubs in 2008, he started taking crystal methamphetamine, a very addictive narcotic. He spent 2012–2019 in and out of jail, homeless, and unhoused. Cycled continuously.

Patterson believes stable rehabilitation was lacking in the criminal justice system. After his release, he was destitute and attended several recovery clinics to get clean, but he returned to jail again. Despite his efforts, his last jail time was the same. Instead, he entered a “system of change.”

His life altered when he tested positive for HIV in prison. He stated discovering he had HIV was alarming yet one of the nicest things that occurred to him. Testing positive was not, but his diagnosis gave him access to services he hadn’t had before.

After his final jail sentence, he lived at Broward House, a Fort Lauderdale nonprofit that houses and serves HIV-positive persons. For nearly a year, he tried to get sober and establish himself.

Since he had always wanted to finish college, his therapist and Broward House support team recommended him to try again. They advised him to seek for a homeless tuition waiver for college, which helped with his finances.

Patterson obtained an associate degree from Broward Community College in one year thanks to the waiver. Despite his reservations, Broward House officials persuaded him to apply at FAU.

While applying, he struggled with prior guilt and wanted to quit several times. Patterson said he took this approach “one day at a time”.

Due to his criminal past, FAU required an admissions review board when he applied. He claimed the meeting might have gone two ways, but FAU Dean of Students Audrey Pusey still believed in him and wanted to start over.

“There was nothing special about me,” Patterson said, crediting FAU’s resources and guidance that opened their doors with love instead of judgment for his achievement.

Patterson honestly said he never thought he’d graduate college. He holds a bachelor’s and two master’s degrees in social work aged 36. He is pursuing a public administration PhD.

Patterson believes he did not receive FAU’s level of acceptance at any other college. my eyes start to tear up as he recalls, “I had ‘convicted felon’ tattooed on my forehead,” which he realized was my imposter condition.

Patterson serves on the board of Champions Empowering Champions, a local nonprofit that empowers foster and homeless college students. He was a student member in college and can now aid others.

The non-university initiative matches students with volunteer mentors who can offer practical advice on this difficult journey. He said support is available for registered users, but if they don’t use it, it might go.

Patterson claims that fall waiver applicants, especially homeless students, don’t seek help. Champions Empowering Champions has 50 of 125 waiver-using former foster adolescents.

Patterson says the fellowship helps with imposter syndrome. In certain situations, a student may think, “I’m not sure I belong here,” or “Will this even help me?” Will I graduate?”

He explained that stigma is a significant barrier, as people may not want to be identified and may have a “by my own bootstraps” mentality, believing they don’t need any support.

Patterson and Joseph Murray, associate dean of FAU’s Educate Tomorrow program, which advises these students, concur, but say it’s hard to find students.

While the institution does not publish tuition waiver recipients, they notify all qualifying students about standing resources. Murray says persuading pupils to use resources is challenging and “special” for former foster care youth and homeless students.

Murray says Educate Tomorrow’s housing subsidies depend on financial aid eligibility and funding. He stated they generate money through donations and need funding for next spring.

But the grant has conditions. He said students must attend academic advising every semester and participate in mentorship, career advice, and counseling to receive it.

Murray theoretically claims that giving any student $3,000 doesn’t enhance graduation rates. However, enormous resources aid despite slight obstacles.

“If you don’t make it required, most students don’t use it,” he said.

Murray advises students to complete the FAFSA to take advantage of all financial aid offerings. Independent students who cannot file taxes may find the form difficult. The FAU Financial Aid office was suggested for verification.

Under-24 students are considered dependent by the US Department of Education on the FAFSA form. Students must include parental financial information. The FAFSA website allows unaccompanied homeless or at-risk students to apply as independent students.

Murray stated that this position permits students to apply for financial aid without parental financial information and may improve their alternatives.

Foster care students do not receive financial help from the U.S. Department of Education. If you qualify, you may receive federal student help.

Question 49 on the FAFSA asks: “Have both your parents died, were you in foster care, or were you a court dependent or ward since age 13?””

Murray calls FAU’s Dean of Students office a “key piece” in verifying and providing resources. In an email to the University Press on July 29, Pusey said the committee analyzes Homeless Verification petitions and University Advising Services processes DCF waivers under the Educate Tomorrow program.

Instead than waiting for students to contact the organization, Champions Empowering Champions co-founder and FAU Faculty Senate president Kimberly Dunn says the group actively promotes its services. She said the program accepts youngsters who were in foster care in another state and may not qualify for the Florida waiver.

Dunn entered foster care at eight years old. Though she was reunited with her parents, she still remembers the anguish of being dropped off at a stranger’s house and not understanding what was happening.

Dunn co-founded the 2019 program because she “knew firsthand how difficult it is to navigate college if you don’t come from a family that can share experiences.” “I adopted both of my sons from foster care and saw them struggling with college.”

DCF removes children from their homes and places them in a “temporary” residence with a registered caretaker. As Dunn says, some foster parents adopt the child, but most want to reunite with the birth parent. That’s not always true.

“So, as the typical high school senior transitions to college from a more stable family, they have a support system,” Dunn said. “Children who leave foster care lack that support system to transition from high school to college to adulthood.

Murray notes that not all FAU former foster youngsters are homeless, and vice versa.

“So they’re not mutually exclusive, but there is certainly some overlap,” he said, adding that while homeless student instances vary, they are more common than one might imagine.

Murray described a scenario in which students are evicted and not supported financially or otherwise.

He said you start “couch surfing” with a few clothes and whatever you can pack.

Murray remarked, “This is not to be critical, but, you know, these students are not the ones you’re finding under the bridges as you drive around or panhandling in the turn lane. “You cannot identify homeless or former foster youth by walking around.”

Murray discussed how growing rent and housing insecurity have forced some students to live in hotels or FAU parking lots. He thinks they use the Recreation Center showers or the library late at night. He cited cases of single parents losing their employment or family deaths or jail as examples of students’ situations that can change at any time.

“You have a paper due today. Will you focus on finishing a report or finding a safe place to stay and a food in three days? In an email to the UP on July 30, FAU social work professor Danielle Groton, who researches homelessness and housing, said academic accomplishment cannot be a goal without fundamental needs satisfied.

Groton said some homeless people confront physical hazards, hygiene, and health issues in addition to trauma. Unsheltered students—those without temporary housing or emergency shelter—may experience this.

Despite the stigma, Groton wrote in an email that most homeless people do not have serious mental health or substance use disorders.

“Some people who report a substance use disorder began using after becoming homeless to cope with the stressors of being unhoused,” she wrote.

Murray stressed that homeless pupils are just like everyone else, despite preconceptions.

“You look alike. You’re doing the same things, but you’re suddenly without that safety net, he said.

Patterson thinks college degrees will get them better jobs and help them overcome poverty.

Many take family support for granted, such as learning how to apply for a job or do taxes. He said that these talents are taught outside of high school or college.

Patterson found that housing and food insecurity are linked, especially after losing family support, in his studies on homeless students.

He advises applying for student housing immediately and being honest. Patterson says programs want to help but can’t without knowing student needs.

Patterson held the “Housing Insecurity in Paradise” photo gallery on Oct. 16 to combat homelessness stigma. He has helped kids in his situation, and he knew that some acquire housing grants or financial aid to reside in dorms outside of the waiver.

“But where do they go in summer? They go where during Christmas break?He asked, underscoring the issues students confront after the semester finishes and campus housing is gone. He adds that the waiver does not cover book, transit, or lodging charges.

He says the high cost of living and rental market make it harder to attend school without secure accommodation. He also notes that FAU’s dorm shortage complicates the situation.

Gorton believes finding “suitable” accommodation is the best way to help homeless kids.

“By suitable, I mean ‘permanent’ style housing, which is private housing with a rental or occupant agreement and gives students stability and security in knowing they cannot be suddenly removed without just cause,” she added.

According to the “Housing First” paradigm, stable housing is supplied first, then any other hurdles are addressed.

As she says, Pusey’s department works with FAU homes and Residential Education and community agencies to help students find homes.

“We provide case management services, which includes on-campus and off-campus housing referrals and other needs,” she emailed. “We strive to offer emergency housing for students in need as resources allow.”

The Dean of Students office has received housing requests from homeless students who did not sign the waiver, according to university records. They do not count unverified outreaches.

Pusey said her office offers food-insecure pupils the Beyond Food program and pantry.

“This program is open to any student in need, not just our homeless population,” she stated.

She stated that her department offers complete case management with monthly check-ins or more frequent follow-ups if needed.

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