A sharp increase of students in Maine going to school hungry, tired, and dirty has prompted the state to launch a first-of-its-kind program where schools can lend financial assistance to families who need help paying rent, utilities, or other bills as the state grapples with the sudden rise of students facing homelessness.
A new Maine program aims to pay for critical housing needs for kids in school mainepublic.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mainepublic.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
On the new form, students will have to answer fewer questions about their status as unaccompanied homeless youth. Advocates are hoping the changes make it easier for students to access financial aid but worry about implementation. Lexi Geampa didn’t think she would be able to go to college. She was couch surfing with friends during her senior year of high school and needed to be verified as an unaccompanied homeless youth in order to receive federal financial aid because she doesn’t have parents to support her. She did eventually receive that determination and enrolled at Oregon State University, where she’s now a sophomore. But, every academic year, she has to reverify her status with college administrators to continue to receive aid, which she said is frustrating.