In some cases a financial aid officer can do what’s called a dependency override for students.  This is beneficial because when your status changes from dependent to independent you become eligible for more federal aid and are extended a higher annual allotment of federally borrowed funds.  One such qualifier for the dependency override is students who are homeless.  Below is further clarification on what constitutes “homeless” as well as some additional definitions.

Homeless youth definitions

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.

Homeless: lacking, fixed, regular, and adequate housing.

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

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

Youth: a student who is 21 years old or younger or still enrolled in high school as of the date he signs the application.

Housing

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.