You can stand with families like Ethan's

The end of the school day is a moment so many children look forward to. The bell rings and they rush out of class to get home.

But for over 9,500 children in Scotland, school is an escape from the tough reality of being homeless. It's a place where – for a few hours each day – they feel warm. Safe, settled, protected from dangerous mould. Free from worries about rodents or lice.

It's not home time for children facing homelessness.

'My mum tried setting up an area for me to do school work, but it wasn't really that much. It was a desk that we also used to cook and everything on.' – Ethan

Ethan and his Mum Sireena were forced to move into temporary accommodation – where they stayed for the next six years. Ethan was just 11 years old.

At Shelter Scotland, we know that living in unsafe and unsuitable temporary accommodation brings tough challenges for children's education.

How do we expect children to thrive at school without a safe place to call home?

Ethan, now 17 and settled in a safe, permanent home, is passionate about sharing his experiences. He's supporting our work to put pressure on the Scottish government to fulfil their commitment to more social homes.