Hi! My name is Clara and I am just like every other 10 year old...

I love to walk in the park, play sports, draw, read a good book, listen to music and spend time with friends and family!

Although, there is one big difference between me and the rest of my classmates...

This year my mom and I had to move into a homeless shelter. She said it is nothing to be ashamed of and I still get to go to school and see my friends but...

... everything feels different...

There are some nights when I can't get any sleep. I worry about my mom, if we will ever leave the shelter, school, food, and how will my friends react if they find out where I live?

School is a lot different too..

Some days I am so hungry and tired because I didn't get breakfast and didn't get enough sleep the night before.  

Sometimes I miss school because I overslept and missed the bus...but no one else can take me to school. 

Sometimes I feel ashamed of being homeless. All the girls talk about their big rooms, and eat their big lunches out of their fancy lunch boxes

My Teacher, Ms. Jones, knows that I am homeless and helps me in school.  I am able to get free meals at school. She makes sure that I get transportation to and from school and school soccer practice. If I wasn't able to get sleep that night, and I'm late for school or miss my ride, she doesn't penalize me. 

Ms. Jones knows that my life in the shelter can be hard and unstable, so she is always there for me. She says I can stay in her classroom after school if I don't have a  ride, she makes sure I have a meal to eat, she catches me up on lessons I've missed, and she is always there to support me emotionally...