The prospect of college feels completely out of reach to many low-income young people. Add a history of homelessness to the picture and higher education becomes even more remote and unattainable. Why? Because young people without sufficient financial resources and nurturing parents lack access to information about college. They are fearful and uninformed about the application process. They find the maze of financial aid possibilities confusing and daunting. And they often don’t have the assistance of a supportive adult who has experience going through this process. (Learn more about homeless youth in Seattle.)

Poverty is a spiral, and the cultural forces that surround those in poverty (landlords, creditors, police, entitlement and aid programs) often wind up keeping people within that spiral. Studies show that young people from low-income backgrounds generally do not receive as much information and support about college planning as their wealthier peers do. In most cases, this is because low-income parents are less likely to have graduated from college and are less familiar with the requirements of the college admissions process. The situation worsens for homeless youth, most of whom have no parent or other supportive adult around to guide and assist them. These students are left to fend for themselves within the system.

Access to financial aid is crucial. But money is not enough. Research demonstrates that one of the most effective ways to increase low-income youth’s access to higher education is through increased mentoring. The support of a mentor can guide them through the academic pipeline. Students who engage with a mentor for a sustained period of time are more likely to enroll in higher education, stay in school, and ultimately graduate.

Research* has shown that the most effective college access programs have the following elements in common:

  • providing a key person who monitors the students over a long period of time

  • providing high-quality instruction and access to the most challenging courses

  • making long-term investments rather than short-term interventions

  • incorporating culturally sensitive practices

  • providing a supportive peer group

  • and providing financial assistance and incentives.

(*Reference: Gandara, P. (2001) Paving the Way to Postsecondary Education: K-12 Interventions for Underrepresented Youth. Washington D.C.: National Center for Education Statistics.)