For many young people, going to college starts with a big question: How will I pay for it? The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can help answer that question, but getting started can be difficult, especially for youth experiencing homelessness.

Earlier this year, HYC had the opportunity to participate in the U.S. Department of Education’s beta testing of the new 2027–28 FAFSA. The experience gave HYC Youth Coaches an early look at the application and, more importantly, another opportunity to help youth navigate the process.

More than Filling Out a Form

For some youth, the biggest challenge isn’t understanding what FAFSA is. It’s sitting down and feeling confident enough to begin.

HYC Youth Coach, Rae, shared how that one-on-one guidance can make the difference between a youth starting the application and actually finishing it.

“There’s a lot of anxiety that comes with doing adult paperwork,” Rae said. “Being present and walking youth through it when they have a question increases their chances of getting it done.”

For other youth, the challenge goes beyond getting started. Questions about family circumstances, who a young person lives with and whether they are considered financially independent can make the FAFSA more complicated. Some may not know their Social Security number, while others may be unsure how to answer questions about their family or living situation. For those under 18, there can be additional challenges when information from a parent or other contributor is needed.

Another challenge is that some youth may not realize they qualify as homeless.

“When they see the word ‘homeless’ on the FAFSA, they think, ‘Oh, that’s not me.”

For a young person who has been staying with friends, moving between relatives’ homes or living in another arrangement they may consider temporary, the word “homeless” may not seem to describe their experience—even when they qualify for support under federal guidelines.

Helping youth understand how their circumstances fit into the FAFSA is one of the ways a Youth Coach can help them move forward. Rae has seen how quickly uncertainty can become a reason to put the application off.

“I have students who don’t feel capable of doing the paperwork themselves,” she said. “If I’m not there to walk them through it, it’s really overwhelming.”

Helping Youth See What’s Possible

The FAFSA is just one part of the conversation. HYC Youth Coaches also help youth explore different paths to education and career goals.

Rae encourages youth to consider options that fit their goals, finances and circumstances—including community college, trade programs and other career-focused education.

Scholarships can also open doors. HYC Youth Coaches help youth explore opportunities available to them, including the Dorothy Fisher Scholarship, which provides financial support specifically for HYC youth continuing their education. They also help youth work through scholarship applications, including reviewing essays and helping them put their ideas into words before they submit.

Sometimes the Hardest Part Is Taking the Next Step

Even when a young person wants to go to college, taking that next step can bring up complicated feelings.

Rae worked with youth who were excited about college at the beginning of the year but became hesitant as graduation approached. For some, the idea of leaving home to pursue their own education and future can feel like they are leaving their family behind. When they have spent much of their lives helping care for or provide for others, choosing a path that creates stability for themselves can be difficult.

“For a lot of our youth, they already don’t get to focus on themselves,” Rae said. “They’ve had to be really mature for their age. Sometimes they’ve had to be the parent for their parents or take on responsibilities that most young people their age don’t have. All those things factor in.”

That’s why having a trusted adult alongside them matters—not to make decisions for them, but to help them work through the questions, understand their options, and keep moving toward the goals they’ve set for themselves.

“I have a lot of kids who have told me they wouldn’t have done it without my support,” she said.

One youth needed multiple appointments before completing the process. Rae met with him at least four times as he worked through his anxiety and uncertainty. He ultimately went to college—and later thanked her for helping him follow through.

Sometimes, getting to college starts with something as simple as having someone sit beside you and say, “Let’s figure this out together.”

That’s what HYC makes possible.