That is why Financial Aid Advisers (the ones at your school) can make judgement calls on a case by case basis to override the computer system.
Specifically, there are two qualities of your described situation which qualify you for such an override. 1. You mentioned that you are couch surfing with friends. This means you are homeless 2. You made a good amount on previous employment and your story seems to suggest that said employment is no longer active. This means you have recently lost your job. According to FAFSA guides for financial aid advisers, professional judgement may be used to adjust parameters which are used to calculate your expected family contribution.
Your situation appears to apply to several typical cases in which professional judgement is recommended.
1. "A student is considered homeless if he or she lacks fixed, regular, and adequate housing. This includes students who are living in shelters, motels, cars, or parks, or who are temporarily living with other people because they have nowhere else to go." -https://fafsa.ed.gov/fotw1314/help/fahelp29a.htm
2. "Special circumstances may include tuition expenses at an elementary or secondary school, medical, dental, or nursing home expenses not covered by insurance, unusually high child care or dependent care costs, recent unemployment of a family member or an independent student, a student or family member who is a dislocated worker (as defined in section 101 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998), the number of parents enrolled at least half time in a degree, certificate, or other program leading to a recognized educational credential at an institution with a program participation agreement under section 487, a change in housing status that results in an individual being homeless (as defined in section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act), or other changes in a family’s income, a family’s assets or a student’s status. Special circumstances shall be conditions that differentiate an individual student from a class of students rather than conditions that exist across a class of students. Adequate documentation for such adjustments shall substantiate such special circumstances of individual students." -http://ifap.ed.gov/fsahandbook/attachments/1314AVGCh5.pdf -http://www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/leg/hea98/sec478.html
All of this amounts to the your case calling for professional judgement by your financial aid advisers. I do not know what made them turn you away before but it may be as simple as not knowing. I had a similar situation in school myself, it turned out that the first adviser I worked with was somewhat new to their job and just did not know they could make a judgement call.
Never give up. If it seems like the system is broken, make it work for you. I hope this information helps.
For anyone else who happens to know Ingrid Avendano or how to get her a message, please pass this info along.