Meet Sam.  Sam lives on Staton Street with his mom, dad, and little brother Todd.  He has a lovely home with a big yard.  Sam loves his home.  It has a bright white fence all around and three front steps.

The living room is filled with family photos and little trinkets from their travels.  Sam also has his own room with lots of action figures.  Sam is proud of his collection and wants to buy more.

One day while Sam is at school, his mom come early to pick him up.  She tells him there was a fire in their home while Mom and Dad were at work.  The fire department came quickly to extinguish the flames, but everything is covered in ash.  Sam’s mom tells him they can’t live there anymore.  They drive to dad’s work to deliver the news and come up with a plan.

Sam and his family sleep in their car that night.  Sam is cramped in the backseat with Todd, and feels very unsure.  Where is his action figure collection?  Are the family photos still on the wall?  Where will they live now?

The next morning, Sam and his family decide to visit the shelter.  The shelter is a place for homeless people to stay until they find a new place to live.  Mom sits Todd and Sam down at the table and fills out paperwork.  Sam can see there are other children at the shelter.  He wonders if their houses burned down too.

At the shelter, there are lots of people bustling around.  One lady hands them blankets and spare clothes.  Another brings them trays of food and water bottles.  After eating breakfast, Sam and his family decide to explore.  There are small rooms in the shelter for families to sleep in, as well as a fun playground out back for the kids.   

Sam returns to school the next day.  His teacher smiles at him and hands him a brand-new backpack.  She gives him a big hug and his friends do the same.  In fact, everyone at school tells Sam that they want to help and offer to bring him clothes, food, and toys.  Sam feels very grateful and is thankful to have such great friends.

That evening, Sam and his family return to the shelter and find a few neighbors waiting outside.  The neighbors have brought dinner to share as well as some clothes for the kids.  Sam’s mom and dad smile brightly and thank them for their support.  The adults discuss new homes to rent while the children play basketball outside.

When Sam wakes up the next morning, his mom tells him that they will be moving to a new home soon.  The new home has a bedroom for Sam and his brother Todd, as well as a backyard with grass and a large oak tree.  Sam is excited to have his own place again!