Street and Community Outreach
Covenant House street and community outreach is the bridge to housing, healing, and opportunity. We show young people experiencing homelessness that we care and that they deserve a safe place to sleep, unconditional love, and absolute respect.
How Do Young People Find Covenant House?
Young people experiencing homelessness find Covenant House in a variety of ways. Some are referred to us from other partner organizations. Some learn that our doors are open 24/7 from peers, school social workers, or guidance counselors.
But for those young people who can’t find us, our dedicated street and community outreach teams go to them. Offering food, hygiene products, clean clothing, and a warm blanket if needed. Most importantly, offering absolute respect, unconditional love, and a safe place to sleep.
No Young Person Should Be Living on the Streets
The streets are a dangerous place for young people experiencing homelessness. Our street and community outreach efforts have never been as important as they are today.
Increased violence, access to dangerous drugs like Fentanyl, and gangs have intertwined themselves with street culture. Human trafficking has become a “business” that preys on vulnerable people, and children and youth experiencing homelessness are a prime target of this criminal industry. And, there are simply not enough services where people facing mental health challenges can go.
How We're Investing in Our Communities
Our outreach teams are deeply invested in the communities where they work. Here are are just a few ways we're involved in community outreach and engagement:
Education
Our teams attend committee meetings, sit on town councils, and visit local schools, hospitals, and community group events to help inform and teach on the issues of youth homelessness and human trafficking.
Collaboration
Our outreach teams work with partner organizations in combating human trafficking and striving for new ways to change laws, policies, and practices that are unjustly leading to so many young people, particularly young people of color, being unhoused and on the streets.
Prevention
Outreach staff visit schools, community centers, and houses of worship to educate and inform young people of services and resources that are available should they or their peers need help.
Our Outreach Teams Provide Relentless Support
Even just a few minutes of positive interaction can be life-changing for a young person experiencing homelessness.
"The best way to do outreach is to let them know that we'll be there when they're ready."
Mike Blockson, Covenant House Texas
“So many of the young people we meet have been hurt and abused and neglected by adults.”
Stephanie Taylor, Covenant House Detroit
"Wherever children and adolescents may find refuge—on streets, under bridges, in garbage dumps, and parks—we treat that space and the people in it with respect."
What Happens After Outreach?
We welcome all youth without judgment or conditions, meeting their immediate basic needs of food, clothing, medical attention, and a safe place to sleep, at no cost. No matter how they find us, where they come from, or their length of stay, we make addressing their needs our top priority.
Support Street and Community Outreach Services
Your gift today allows us to reach more young people experiencing homelessness and give them a safe place to sleep.