Financial Aid for Homeless and or Foster Youth

California CHAFEE Grant for Foster Youth


CHAFEE Grant

  • If you are or were in foster care for at least one day, between the ages of 16 and 18 as a dependent or ward of the court and have financial need, you may qualify for up to $5,000 a year for career and technical training or college.

  • You don’t have to pay this money back. You may also be able to use your grant to help pay for child care, transportation and rent while you’re in school.

  • You can use your Chafee Grant at any eligible California college or university or career or technical school, as well as schools in other states.


CHAFEE Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a current or former foster youth who was a ward of the court, living in foster care, for at least one day between the ages of 16 and 18.

  • If you are/were in Kin-GAP, a non-related legal guardianship, or were adopted, you are eligible only if you were a dependent or ward of the court, living in foster care, for at least one day between the ages of 16 and 18.

How-To Apply

To be considered for a California Chafee Grant, you must complete the following:



Foster Care Eligibility Form

  • Your foster care placement history need only be verified once. Complete and submit a Foster Care Eligibility Form ONLY when requested by the California Student Aid Commission.

  • Fax, email, or mail this form to the Chafee ETV contact in the county where you are living now. Click on the button below to obtain the Chafee eligibility form.

Unaccompanied and Homeless Youth


Definitions and Terminology

Homeless: A student is considered homeless if they lack fixed, regular, and adequate housing. This is broader than just living “on the street.” It includes:

  • Temporarily living with other people

  • Living in substandard housing

  • Living in emergency or transitional shelters

Unaccompanied: When a student is not living in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.

At Risk of Being Homeless: When a student’s housing may cease to be fixed, regular, and adequate, for example, a student who is being evicted and has been unable to find fixed, regular, and adequate housing

Self-Supporting: When a student pays for his own living expenses, including a fixed, regular, and adequate housing.

Youth: Any student who is not yet 24 may qualify for a homeless youth determination.

Recognized Third Parties: Relevant information can come from recognized third-parties such as private or publicly funded homeless shelters and service providers, financial aid administrators from another college, college access programs such as TRIO and GEAR UP, college or high school counselors, other mental health professionals, social workers, mentors, doctors, and clergy.



Unaccompanied/Homeless Youth & Financial Aid

Parental information does not need to be provided on the financial aid application if the student is....

  1. Under the age 24; and

  2. Experiencing homelessness on or after July 1st of the year specified on the FAFSA. Homelessness means you are staying:

    • with other people temporarily because you lost your housing or similar reason;

    • in a shelter

    • in a motel/hotel due to lack of alternatives

    • in a car or other unsheltered situation

    • living in a campus residence hall but otherwise would have nowhere else to go; and

  3. Not in the physical custody of your parents or guardians.


Determining Unaccompanied/Homeless Youth Status

Unaccompanied-Homeless-Youth-Determination-Flowchart.pdf
Unaccompanied-Homeless-Youth-Determination-Flowchart-Spanish.pdf