SPOKANE, Wash. — More than 1,300 students in Spokane Public Schools are experiencing housing insecurity, and a district program is asking the community to help ensure those children feel supported this holiday season. The HEART program, which works directly with students who lack stable housing, is collecting gift cards to give to teens who may be sleeping in shelters, vehicles or tents.

For many of these students, school is more than just a place to learn — it’s a safe and warm space. Winter Summers, a senior at North Central High School, says she’s relied on “The Den,” a calming room on campus, during an often chaotic life. “I love North Central,” she said. “I used to just relax there, take a breather… I’ve always had to hop from home to home.”

About 90 of the students experiencing hou

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