How Covenant House NY is Helping to End Youth Homelessness
This Youth Homelessness Awareness month, we’ve partnered again with Covenant House New York, to raise awareness of this crisis. CHNY is NYC’s largest provider serving youth experiencing homelessness. And it’s not just a shelter. They provide affirming and transformative services around career development and healing from trauma, so each young person can create their own path forward. Their doors are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Why Do We Say Youth Homelessness Is A Crisis?
More than 4.2 million youth ages 13-25 experience a period of homelessness in the U.S. each year; in Canada, 35,000-40,000 youth experience homelessness in a given year. In Latin America, poverty is a driver of homelessness and other adverse situations youth face; childhood poverty rates in Guatemala and Honduras are about 71% and 65%, respectively, and about 38% in Mexico.
Homelessness puts youth at risk for abuse, trafficking, and physical, mental, and emotional harm.
Homelessness interrupts a pivotal moment in a young person’s development, and the lack of support from adults, family, and peers can contribute to longer-term or chronic adult homelessness.
Homelessness intersects with race, ethnicity, sexual identity, economics, and other factors that impact some youth more than others. Black youth and youth of color, those from low-income families, pregnant and parenting youth, and those who are LBGTQ+ face higher risks of homelessness.
What can we do?
Wednesday, November 1: Spread the word.
Youth Homelessness Awareness month kicks off on the 1st. Talk to your community in person and on social media about ways we can all effect change.
Thursday, November 16: Sleep Out!
Join or host a Sleep Out and fundraise to support the cause.
All month long:
You can volunteer with Covenant House NY in several different ways, from joining a career panel to sorting clothing items
Become a community or corporate partner for ongoing support.
Donate once or monthly.