EmpowerEd – Grant money from the State of Colorado to support eligible students who experienced homelessness while enrolled in a Colorado high school.
Who qualifies?
Students who meet the criteria below are eligible to have the remaining cost of attendance (after scholarships, grants and other financial aid awards have been applied) covered for up to 132 credit hours.
- Identified by designated high school personnel as a homeless child or youth pursuant to the Federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, while residing in Colorado anytime between the start of 9th grade and end of 12th grade, and
- Between 17 to 27 years of age, and
- Current Colorado resident, and
- Currently enrolled in courses leading toward your first bachelor’s degree, associate degree, or certificate, and
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA) (ASSET-eligible students only) for the applicable school year.
How do I apply?
- Complete the FAFSA (or CASFA for ASSET-eligible students) and indicate past or current experience of homelessness,
- Register for classes required to complete your declared program of study,
- Complete the 2024-2025 EmpowerEd Application,
- If graduated high school after October 2023, present proof of homeless experience signed by authorized entity for homelessness determination (ex: Independent Student Status of Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Determination for the 2024-2025 FAFSA).
- If you have questions on this form, please contact the McKinney-Vento District Liaison for the district you graduated from for assistance. A full list of Colorado public school district McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Liaisons can be found at https://www.cde.state.co.us/studentsupport/homeless_liaisons.
- If graduated before October 2023, the Department of Higher Education will receive proof of homelessness experience directly from the Colorado Department of Education.
- If graduated high school after October 2023, present proof of homeless experience signed by authorized entity for homelessness determination (ex: Independent Student Status of Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Determination for the 2024-2025 FAFSA).
Questions? Contact your RRCC single point of contact, David Marquez: David.Marquez@rrcc.edu.