Youth Leadership and Scholarship Program

Scholarship Sponsored by SchoolHouse Connection

Helping You Access and Complete Higher Education

Scholarship Overview
The SchoolHouse Connection Youth Leadership & Scholarship Program is one of the few nationwide scholarship initiatives specifically serving young people who have experienced homelessness. The program combines financial aid with intensive case management, peer connection, leadership development, and other supports to help students get into college, persist while enrolled, begin careers, and build long-term stability.

Program Purpose
Through this initiative we offer monetary assistance, personalized casework, peer networks, and leadership opportunities to students with lived experience of homelessness so they can prepare for, enroll in, and complete postsecondary education.

Important Dates (for students beginning college for the first time in 2027–2028)
- January 1, 2026: Application opens
- June 2, 2026: Application closes
- First week of August, 2026: Applicants notified

How We Define Homelessness
We use a standard definition: homelessness means lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

Who Is Eligible
You may apply if you meet every item below:
- You currently live in the United States. (Undocumented youth are welcome to apply.)
- Your date of birth is on or after June 2, 2007.
- You will be a first-time college student in the 2027–2028 academic year at one of the following: a four-year college or university, a community college, or a trade/vocational school. Eligible applicants include:
- High school juniors,
- High school seniors planning a gap year,
- Students working toward a GED who intend to begin college in 2027–2028.
Note: Dual-enrollment coursework does not qualify as beginning college.
- You have experienced homelessness within the past six years.

Program Timeline for Support
We begin working with selected students approximately one year before they start college to deliver concentrated college-readiness assistance.

What Scholars Receive
SchoolHouse Connection Scholars receive ongoing, multi-faceted support rather than a single payment. Benefits include:
- A $2,500 scholarship award plus monthly stipends up to $100 while in college
- One-on-one support from SchoolHouse Connection staff (case management)
- Three fully funded, all-expenses-paid trips
- Peer support from other SchoolHouse Connection Scholars
- Opportunities to participate in state and federal policy advocacy

Application Status
Applications open January 1, 2026 and close June 2, 2026 for students beginning their first year of college in 2027–2028. Applicants will be notified in the first week of August 2026.