No Young Person Should Have to Choose Between Surviving and Staying in School.

At 16, Sesame spent three months sleeping in the stairwell of her family’s apartment building. She used discarded cardboard as a mattress and covered herself with her clothes to keep warm. Every day, she still went to school and completed her homework—without knowing where she would sleep that night. She told herself, “Just hold on a little longer. If I can get into a university far from home, I can finally leave.”

For most young people, a new school year marks a fresh start. But for young people without a safe and stable home, it can force an impossible choice: Do I stay in school, or focus on surviving?
Tuition Is Only Part of the Challenge—Everyday Survival Is What Pushes Young People Out of School. Many people assume that tuition assistance is enough to keep a young person in school. Through years of supporting young people without stable homes or family support, CCSA has learned that the greatest barriers are often everyday living costs: rent, food, transportation, medical care, and basic necessities. Each expense can become an overwhelming burden.
According to CCSA’s 2025 data, 40% of the direct financial assistance provided to these young people—NT$3.34 million—went toward basic living expenses. This was far more than the amount allocated to tuition and school-related costs (20%) or rental assistance (12%). The figures show that meeting basic needs is critical to helping young people continue their education. Even with government support, each student still faces an average funding gap of NT$10,000 to NT$30,000 per semester.

One Person Can Only Do So Much. A Community of Support Can Change a Life.
With support from social workers and a safe place to live, Sesame experienced the warmth of a caring home for the first time. She went on to complete university and is now pursuing a graduate degree. Their lives did not change because they suddenly got lucky. They changed because someone chose to stand beside them when they needed support most.

CCSA Does More Than Help Young People Stay in School—We Help Them Build Independent Lives.
CCSA provides long-term support to young people transitioning out of care who lack reliable family support. Our services include:
•Education assistance to ease the cost of tuition, school expenses, and daily living
• Housing and practical support to help young people secure safe, stable accommodation
• Social work and mental health support to promote healing from trauma and build confidence
• Mentoring and career development to help young people move toward a stable, independent future
We believe education can transform a life. But before young people can focus on learning, they need the stability and support to meet their basic needs.

Stand with a Young Person All the Way to Graduation!