My friend was a homeless grad student this past year

I know this is a controversial point of view, but the recommendation I consistently give friends is: don't go to grad school unless you get a stipend and tuition waiver (that's how my PhD program was funded). If you can't get into a grad school program that offers you this, then perhaps you're not academically good enough for it. Work for a bit and re apply later.

If you're starting your career with debt in a field that can't even pay for the value you will add, how do you expect things to get any better?

Especially if you're American, you have two things going on for you: you speak English fluently, and American universities tend to be better recognized internationally (for example, my European undergrad was not recognized by American grad schools, and I had to spend a year in the UK to round off an "official" BSc.) Leverage that to go to grad school abroad: your profile will be desirable there.

Brilliant; and an unfortunate reality for her. Not in the sense of sacrifice, but in why she had to make the sacrifice.

I have no doubt she'll get that dream though... :)