Covenant House International

In the US and Canada, 32% of the youth who come to us have had involvement with foster care. Where systems have either ceased or failed to meet young people's needs, Covenant House is there to fill in the gaps. Young people typically age out of foster care or child welfare systems at 18 or 21. Everyone's path to self-sufficiency is different, and that cutoff can easily happen at a time when a young person is not ready to make it on their own. Instead of the continuing support they need, they are left with an increased risk of poor educational outcomes, homelessness, trafficking, unemployment, and substance use. That's why in addition to supporting youth who have fallen through the gaps in the system, Covenant House supports policy change to improve outcomes for young people in foster care, including programs for college enrollment, affordability, and completion.

"When I gave myself a chance, everything started to change." - Ivory Ivory had sought refuge in various shelters across Chicago before a friend referred her to Covenant House Illinois. Stepping into the drop-in center, Ivory discovered more than just a temporary respite; she found a community committed to offering holistic support and empowerment. With her basic needs cared for, she was able to turn her attention toward the future. Working with Mads, the Covenant House Illinois education and career counselor, she crafted a resume, landed a job in public transit, and started looking for independent housing. Just five months after arriving at Covenant House, she used her first paycheck to make a down payment on an apartment in Hyde Park. "Having a place that understands every unique situation and has resources to help people succeed has made a huge difference for me,” Ivory shares. Through resilience, determination, and unwavering support, she has proved that with a second chance and a helping hand, anything is possible. https://lnkd.in/eG8XqaUB

Last weekend, our special partnership with Cisco was featured at the Global Citizen Festival in New York. Covenant House PA board member, Sleep Out team captain, and Cisco employee, Monica Naim, bravely shared her story as an advocate for all youth facing homelessness.

Homeless does not mean voteless! Across our US sites, program staff have been engaging youth in nonpartisan civics workshops in preparation for federal elections in November. At Covenant House New Jersey, residents have had the option to take a four part series that puts the tools to participate in government firmly in their own hands. First, they learned about government structures and roles to get a sense of what roles they could have a hand in electing this fall. They then dove into the process, covering everything from voter integrity to the electoral college. From that solid civics foundation, they researched the ballot candidate by candidate to really understand the policies and positions at play. The series closed with a session where youth could share their takeaways on what voting means to them personally.

According to a Canadian study, youth experiencing homelessness on average report significantly higher levels of emotional distress, social alienation & inadequacy, interpersonal isolation, and self-alienation than their peers with stable housing. And among homeless youth, participants under age 18 reported even more loneliness than those over 18. Feelings of belonging and acceptance are scarce for youth experiencing homelessness. Many youth walking through our doors aren't immediately ready to accept the full range of our help — often because it is unfamiliar. The unique needs of our young people is the reason that unconditional love and absolute respect are key components of our care model.

Our board is a reflection of our community, bringing together corporate partners, celebrity supporters, and Covenant House alumni. We are proud of the diverse contributions they make to support our youth and want to introduce them to you in our Meet The Board series. Next up is Hannah Collier Next up is Hannah A. Collier PMP, MBA, MSc — and guess what: it's her birthday! 🥳 Even more reason to celebrate her accomplishments and passionate support for Covenant House. Hannah Collier’s journey with Covenant House began in the early 2000s when she sought support as a homeless youth and moved to Covenant House New York with her daughter. Hannah supported herself through undergraduate and graduate school, eventually working on Wall Street. Since then, she has transformed her life, becoming a cutting-edge leader who now helps others navigate their own paths as a professional mentor and coach. After returning to Atlanta during the 2008 recession, she worked as a tax center supervisor, administrative assistant, and IT project manager. Later, as a technology consultant at Workday and Accenture, she partnered with nonprofits like Hands On Atlanta, Black Girls Code, and Women Who Code. In 2017, a friend reconnected Hannah with Covenant House — this time with Covenant House Georgia back in her hometown of Atlanta. She participated in the Young Professional Sleep Out and raised over $1,000 in her first year. Hannah's personal experience with our mission and her knowledge of nonprofit management made joining Covenant House International’s Board a natural progression, and she has been an active member since 2020. Now, Hannah involves her family in her work, with her eldest daughter also engaged in service.

Hurricane Helene is bearing down on the Southeast, and we want to make sure every young person has a safe place to weather the storm. Share this information widely - it could save someone's life. And if you or a young person you know needs help, don't hesitate to reach out to Covenant House Florida or Covenant House Georgia.

Thrilled to be a partner nonprofit of the #GlobalCitizenFestival alongside Covenant House New York and many other amazing organizations!

Guts & Glory at Covenant House Texas! An awesome way to raise funds to support youth facing homelessness.

We are very proud of Mónica Llaguno, our VP for Research, Learning and Evaluation, for being selected to participate in the inaugural Hilton Humanitarian Prize Laureate Leadership Institute Summit! This prestigious event is a unique opportunity for leaders across the globe to deepen their learning, share their stories, and forge meaningful professional connections. Under the theme of Global Perspectives, Scholars and Alumni of the Hilton Humanitarian Prize Laureate Virtual Leadership Institute will engage with peers from around the globe to navigate the challenges and opportunities in global humanitarian efforts. We look forward to the insights Mónica will bring back to Covenant House to help advance our work in Latin America! Learn more about the summit at https://lnkd.in/ecFb56HY #HiltonPrizeSummit #Leadership #GlobalPerspectives #AtlasCorpsRepresent