Donors Bridge FAFSA Gap for Students at Shoreline Community College 

Shoreline, WA – [October 17, 2024] – The U.S. Department of Education promised a streamlined financial aid process for students this year by reimagining the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). However, instead of making things easier, the rollout of the new form has been riddled with delays and technical issues. Released months behind schedule, the updated FAFSA left colleges scrambling to process aid packages. Errors in the form nearly cost students $1.8 billion in federal aid, and even after a fix was implemented, further delays ensued. Additionally, a technical glitch prevented many non-citizens and their children from completing the application, adding to the frustration. 

These delays have disproportionately impacted low-income students who rely on federal aid to meet essential needs such as rent, childcare, and food. Without timely access to these funds, many students faced frustration and financial insecurity, threatening their ability to remain in school. 

In response, this summer the Shoreline Community College Foundation (SCCF), supported by generous donors, established a special emergency fund to bridge the gap between when students were awarded aid and when they received the funds. The Shoreline Community College (Shoreline) Financial Aid Office administered these funds to ensure students could stay enrolled despite the delays. 

“Research from 2024 highlights that financial barriers remain one of the leading causes of student attrition,” said Ryan Aiello, Vice President of Student Services at Shoreline Community College. “A recent survey conducted by Western Washington University and the Washington State Achievement Council found that nearly 50% of students at two-year colleges have experienced food or housing insecurity.” Using Donor funds in this way alleviated financial stress on low-income students, keeping these students in school, giving them a better chance to complete their degree or certificate training, and move into living-wage jobs. 

Wendy Coates, Executive Director of the SCCF, praised the donors whose contributions made this initiative possible: “This was such a unique situation. We knew the FAFSA rollout was delayed so we were able to find a solution to bridge the gap for our most financially fragile students before they were negatively impacted.” Through this program, 111 students received stipends ranging from $500 to $1,000 totaling $60,000 overall to cover critical living expenses, including rent, food, childcare, and transportation. 

“I am deeply grateful to the donors to the SCCF who make emergency programs like this possible.,” Coates added. Every dollar not only impacts individual students but strengthens the entire Shoreline community.” 

Aiello also underscored the emotional and mental health benefits of the emergency support: “This donor-backed initiative provided immediate relief for over 100 students, alleviating their financial stress as they prepared for the academic term. Beyond addressing physical needs, this assistance also contributed to students’ mental wellbeing by reducing the overwhelming anxiety that often accompanies financial uncertainty.” 

“I am incredibly proud of our financial aid staff for their incredible dedication to our students at this time and to our Foundation and donors who really stepped up to serve students during this national federal aid crisis. It really demonstrates the commitment our community has for student success,” said Shoreline President Dr. Jack Kahn about this important initiative. 

If you’d like to learn more about the work the Shoreline Community College Foundation does, or if you are interested by playing a positive role in the lives of our students by becoming a donor, please visit https://www.shoreline.edu/foundation/ or contact Wendy Coates at wcoates@shoreline.edu 

Shoreline Community College (Shoreline) is tackling the challenge of students experiencing homelessness head-on with the launch of a groundbreaking pilot program. Partnering with King County Housing programs and Best Starts for Kids, the initiative provides students experiencing homelessness who are enrolled in the Center for Education and Career Opportunities (CECO) program with stable on-campus housing, integrated directly with academic and employment support services. 

Breaking Down Barriers to Success 

Many students struggle to juggle educational pursuits with the instability of experiencing homelessness. The constant stress of finding shelter makes it difficult to focus on studies and maintain enrollment. Recognizing this critical barrier, CECO designed this pilot program to empower students experiencing homelessness to achieve their academic and career goals. 

What is CECO? 

CECO serves youth aged 16-21 who have dropped out of high school, assisting them in obtaining their secondary credentials and supporting them through their post-secondary education (gaining their certification, associate’s degree, career) tuition free. Despite the program’s success, certain student groups, particularly those facing severe mental health challenges or experiencing homelessness, have historically struggled to persist. This new partnership is designed to address these barriers directly. 

“We have discovered a significant number of students facing housing instability,” Guru Dorje, Director of CECO at Shoreline explained. “Our goal is to ensure these students not only achieve their educational credentials but as one of the benefits of this they are able to secure permanent housing, breaking the cycle of homelessness.” 

Addressing Critical Needs Through Housing and Support 

This new initiative was originally slated to start in Summer Quarter 2024 but began ahead of schedule due to urgent student needs. The program aims to house students on campus for eight quarters, integrating housing with comprehensive educational and employment support. Currently, four students are benefiting from this program, with plans to expand to twelve students by Spring 2025. 

The program is rooted in the belief that “stable housing, coupled with a dedicated case manager who supports both educational and employment goals, is crucial for student success,” said Dorje. “Other programs typically separate housing and educational support, but our approach integrates them, providing a holistic support system.” 

The program’s early results are promising. All three students currently enrolled in the pilot are on track to earn their high school equivalency diplomas and seamlessly transition to post-secondary education. 

“Our ultimate aim is to see these students complete their education, transfer if appropriate, secure stable employment, and maintain permanent housing, said Dr. Jack Kahn, President of Shoreline Community College. “Our hope is to see positive outcomes with our initial students and expand this program and work with others to do the same” 

Looking Ahead 

Partnering with King County Housing programs and the Shoreline Community College Foundation the initiative provides students experiencing homelessness who are enrolled in the CECO program with stable on-campus housing, integrated directly with academic and employment support services. Initial 2-year grant funding for the program is being provided by King County and generous donors who give through the Shoreline Community College Foundation. Long-term funding to ensure the program’s continued success and expansion is needed. Donors and funders interested in learning more can reach out to the Shoreline Community College Foundation (sccfoundation@shoreline.edu).

This initiative is the first of its kind, combining housing with educational and employment support to a single point of contact in a community college setting. The insights gained from this pilot will inform future strategies to address homelessness among students, with the hope of expanding similar programs across other community and technical colleges.