Beyond the Stereotypes: What Homelessness Really Looks Like and The Power of Humanizing Care in Our Classrooms

This session gives educators a deeper understanding of the broader conditions shaping homelessness in Alberta. Facilitator Claire Pearen draws from her frontline outreach work with Water Warriors YEG to help teachers recognize the systemic and economic factors behind homelessness, including the realities and stats that show the disproportionate impact on Indigenous families. Many students arrive at school carrying unseen economic and family pressures that influence behaviour, attendance, and emotional regulation. Through Slido polls, scenario discussions, and guided reflection, teachers will explore how poverty and housing instability affect student behaviour, engagement, and wellbeing. The session offers practical ways to respond with empathy, reduce stigma, and build classrooms that feel safe and inclusive. The goal is not to solve systemic inequality, but to strengthen everyday practices that help students feel seen, supported, and grounded in their learning environment.