Leaders call on New Haven families to complete FAFSA with help from local grant NBC Connecticut [Video]

The City of New Haven along with congressional and state leaders are calling on students to complete their federal financial aid application.

On Friday a press conference was held at James Hillhouse High School to discuss how a local youth program is working with families to complete the form and the importance of getting it done.

“It’s about an opportunity for CT students of all backgrounds to really to complete, the free application for federal student aid,” Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D, 3rd District) said. 

In the past year, the federal government made changes to the FAFSA application which caused a lot of confusion for students and families. 

To avoid the submission of FAFSA applications from decreasing further in the state, the Higher Heights Youth Empowerment Program secured a $158,000 grant through the Department of Education to help students complete the financial aid form.

Dr. Chaka Felder-McEntire, the founder and executive director of Higher Heights Youth Empowerment Program said families experienced a variety of challenges when the …