Covenant House New York is the original and largest shelter in the Covenant House International network. Last year it served 2,850 homeless,
runaway, trafficked or otherwise at-risk young people, mostly ages 16-21.
Our young people come from all five New Your City boroughs (as well as other regions across the country), both male and female, and they reflect
many races and ethnic/religious heritages. Many of our young people self-identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender, or Questioning (LGBTQ)
and many are young moms, with precious babies who have nowhere else to turn. We serve our LGBTQ youth and our moms as we do everyone:
without judgment or bias; with love and celebration of who they are.
Young people come to us with a variety of issues we can help them with: 80 percent are unemployed, 65 percent lack a high school diploma or GED, 40
percent have been physically abused, and 31 percent have been through foster care.
Each day, scores of kids walk into Covenant Houses across the Americas for the first time. More than half say they have gone at least a week without a
nutritious meal. They get what they need immediately: a shower, food, clothes, a warm bed, and medical care, if they require it—more than a third do.
Within three days, every kid at Covenant House New York sees a doctor.
Once they’re safe, clothed, rested, and fed, we have expectations for them, and it’s time for them to make a plan. The staff promises to help them, and
the kids promise to help themselves—that’s the covenant.
They meet with trained counselors and discuss the causes of their homelessness, their most critical needs, and the steps they will take to meet them. Is
it safe to be reunited with their immediate families, or could they live with other relatives? What kind of jobs do they need? Do they want to finish high
school or go to college? Do they need child care, substance abuse counseling, or job skills? Do they hope to support themselves in apartments of their
own?
Preparing young people for jobs is part of Covenant House’s most practical and important work. Last year almost 600 kids completed our Job
Readiness Workshops, on how to find, apply for, and keep a job in a competitive market. They can use computers to research leads and write resumes,
and staff and volunteers coach them for job interviews. Once the young people have found jobs, Covenant House staff keeps in touch with their
employers, to help iron out any problems or disagreements that could put those positions at risk.
Last year, we served 104,752 meals, provided 11,700 initial and follow up medical clinic visits, and served 789 young people through our outreach
vans, which travel to the parts of the city where homeless kids congregate. We give them sandwiches, referrals, and the assurance that they are
welcome at our shelters. We worked with 473 young mothers and their 499 babies in our Mother and Child Program, and served 283 kids in our
transitional living program, Rights of Passage, where kids get life skills training and support as they move toward life on their own.
Through a study we completed recently with Fordham University, we found that, based on interviews with almost 200 randomly selected residents of
Covenant House New York, almost a quarter of them had either been victims of trafficking or had engaged in survival sex (trading sex acts to meet basic
needs like food or shelter). And almost half said they did it because they did not have a place to stay.
Homeless youth, who often lack adult guidance and caring, are particularly vulnerable to being exploited sexually. We are therefore particularly excited
to be working with the LifeWay Network on a model program for trafficking survivors. A $1.3 million grant from an anonymous donor will support a safe
house and case management services for kids who need it. We see hundreds of young people a year who have been traumatized by trafficking, and
are overjoyed to be able to offer them enhanced services.
We aim to turn no young person away from our shelter, at 460 West 41st and 10th Avenue. Our number is (212) 613-0300, and our website is
We welcome kids, volunteers, and possible mentors. If you want to arrange a tour, please give us a call!
Owner/Editor - Chris Chmielewski