UNHOUSED Youth Resources

Use the links below to find helpful resources for unhoused youth.

National Center for Homeless Education

NCHE operates the U.S. Department of Education’s technical assistance and information center for the federal Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) Program.
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NCHE Scholarship

Having access to higher education is a key opportunity for young people experiencing homelessness to move towards financial stability as adults. The resources found at the button on the right provide young people experiencing homelessness and people who support them with ready access to scholarship information.

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Housing and Urban Development Youth Homelessness Exchange

This page compiles information on a range of initiatives and programs that can assist youth service providers to help prevent and end youth homelessness.
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Santa Cruz County Office of Education

Find out how our Students In Transition (SIT) program supports youth and families experiencing homelessness through education and partnerships.
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NAECY Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Scholarships

Helping Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Access College Financial Aid
Find Scholarships

Encompass Transition Age Youth Programs

Transition Age Youth Programs serve current and former foster, probation placement, and homeless youth ages 15-24. They provide an array of programs and services including counseling, skills building, a drop-in center, and subsidized supportive housing.
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College Homeless Youth Liaison Guide

Guidelines for California Community College Homeless Youth Liaisons
View the Guide

Sueños Program

Sueños helps teenagers and young adults (ages 16 to 24) develop workplace skills that will prepare them to enter and thrive in an increasingly competitive labor market.

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JBAY

John Burton Advocates for Youth works to improve the rate of college enrollment, retention, and degree completion among current and former foster youth and youth who have experienced homelessness through a variety of strategies.
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Key dates and deadlines for applying to college

This resource is intended to provide social workers and probation officers with information about key dates and deadlines associated with applying to and attending post-secondary education.

Get the Dates

Student Training and Education in Public Service

It’s no secret that college can be expensive. But that shouldn’t stop you from pursuing your dream public service degree and career. From academic scholarships and need-based grants to tuition assistance through national public service programs, financial aid is available for just about everyone if you know where to look. Keep reading to learn how to get the help you deserve paying for college.
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Schoolhouse Connection

Tips for Helping Homeless Youth Succeed in College
Get the Tips

Strategies to Accessing FInancial Aid

Helping Homeless Youth Succeed in College: Strategies for Accessing Financial Aid
Learn the Strategies

Homeless HUB – Life Skills

Life skills are extremely important for this population and are skills that a youth might normally obtain when growing up in a stable family environment.
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CAB’s Youth Homeless Response Team

The youth Homeless Response Team is a collaborative effort between the Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County and the Santa Cruz County Office of Education. This supportive services program aims to serve unaccompanied youth between the ages of 15-24 who are experiencing housing instability.

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Bill Wilson Center

Bill Wilson Center is committed to working with the community to ensure that every youth has access to the range of services needed to grow to be healthy and self-sufficient adults.
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SMART Path Assessment

By completing the assessment, you will potentially be considered for multiple housing assistance programs throughout the county. Through Smart Path, scarce housing resources are prioritized based on medical and social vulnerability as determined by the assessment.
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Transition Age Youth Housing Navigation

CAB’s mission is to partner with the community to eliminate poverty and create social change through advocacy and essential services.
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211 Santa Cruz County

2-1-1 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week AND is free, confidential, and available in multiple languages.

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211 Santa Cruz County

2-1-1 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week AND is free, confidential, and available in multiple languages.

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Young Adults Guide to Housing

Although the housing search process can seem overwhelming at first, this guidebook is designed to help break down the process for you and support you in your search. The guide is divided into five sections to assist you with the process of locating, applying for, securing, establishing and maintaining housing.
Get the Guide

UCSC Smith’s Society

The mission of the Smith Society is to create a cross-generational community that provides academic, personal, social and financial support to UCSC students who lack the traditional family support afforded to most of their peers.
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