A One-Woman Rescue Squad for Homeless Students [nytimes.com]

Lara Kain 4/13/2212:38 PM

By Jason DeParle, Photo: Tamir Kalifa/The New York Times, The New York Times, April 11, 2022

By the time she reached school on a recent Monday morning, Norma Mercado had already driven four homeless children to class, one from 30 miles away, having spent the weekend taking a group of homeless students on a college tour and two homeless siblings to buy clothes.

Inside her office, a student was waiting, boiling with rage. Louisa Perez’s ex-best friend was insulting her on Facebook, and Ms. Perez, 17, who until recently had been living in a car, considered the betrayal the latest in a life of violated trust. “That’s why I feel like I can’t be close to nobody — because this always happens!” she sobbed. Friends were urging her to fight.

“Oh, my goodness,” Ms. Mercado said. “Sounds like you’re super mad.”

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