“I had never been to a homeless shelter. I had never talked to someone who was experiencing homelessness,” Tuck said. “And I realized that these women are just like my mom.”Brandi Tuck, left, as a college junior, volunteering at a homeless shelter on spring break Courtesy Brandi TuckAt one shelter, Tuck was entertaining children while their mothers were in a GED class. Specialists help families find permanent housing, while case managers help people access the services they need. She was determined to make it an environment that would help families recover mentally as well as physically.

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