Hello Hunter! Building on the response from @SabrinaMV, one barrier I often notice is limited access to technology. Students may not have reliable internet or personal devices, which can impact everything from completing college applications to keeping up with coursework.

Some effective approaches might include tech lending programs, partnerships with libraries or nonprofits for hotspots, and providing digital literacy support to help students navigate online systems confidently.

When connecting with local liaisons, it can be helpful to introduce yourself, explain your role, and share the kinds of support or resources you might offer students. You might also consider requesting a brief meeting to explore ways to collaborate in supporting shared students. Attending McKinney-Vento meetings and offering to partner on events could be valuable ways to build those connections.

To engage students and build an informal but consistent support system, creating welcoming spaces such as informal meetups or study sessions with refreshments may help students feel seen and supported. Being a consistent presence at events and collaborating with trusted school staff can also strengthen those relationships.

Looking forward to learning from everyone’s experiences!

Hello Hunter! There is one barrier I often see for students experiencing homelessness who want to pursue higher education. The interrupted schooling their living situation has caused. Too often students are not aware of the right to remain at the school of origin and move around or their new living situation is too far from their school of origin. The liaison and school counselors ensuring students’ credits transfer and awarding partial credits is important for these students. Advocating for a district wide policy is helpful. Also, communication between the liaison and school teams of the school of origin and school of residence is critical.