This qualitative study focused on examining the roles and experiences of high school counselors supporting students experiencing homelessness in their college preparation. To be included in the study, participants needed to have experience working with high school students experiencing homelessness. Findings indicated that the participants supported students experiencing homelessness by (a) enhancing access and exposure to college, (b) providing hands-on and individualized college-going support, and (c) building partnerships with universities to support college going.

This qualitative study provides insight into the perceptions and experiences of local homeless liaisons supporting students experiencing homelessness who are preparing for and transitioning to college. Findings suggest that when it comes to preparing students experiencing homelessness for college, liaisons are very involved by addressing students’ three main areas of need. These include their basic needs (i.e., physiological, safety, and academic) and social-emotional needs (i.e., love and belonging and esteem), as well as needs related to college-going (i.e., students’ belief they can go to college) and expectations of college-going outcomes (i.e., students’ belief they can graduate from college). Findings suggest that liaisons play a particularly important role in supporting the college-going of students experiencing homelessness and do so primarily by working collaboratively with a system of stakeholders.