Homeless kids helped by President Kevin Ryan

Covenant House President Kevin Ryan leads the fight to end teen homelessness.

Kevin Ryan has a long history of helping homeless, abused and trafficked kids. Appointed President and CEO in February 2009, he brings decades of experience working directly with our kids, and a deep understanding of the issues homeless kids face.

Kevin has served youth in need since graduating from law school in 1992. Since then, he has been dedicated to improving the well-being of, and advocating for, children and families throughout the country. He led a sustained reform of the child welfare system in New Jersey, coordinated the launch of the United Nations first Envoy's office to eradicate children's deaths due to malaria, and supported reform efforts in Washington D.C. and Michigan. He was tapped to serve as New Jersey's first-ever public Child Advocate and won national praise for his founding work in that office. He co-authored the New Jersey Homeless Youth Act; the New Jersey Family Care Coverage amendments; the Foster Care Scholars Act; and championed core protections for troubled runaway youth in federal juvenile justice legislation.

He worked on the frontlines with homeless youth for 10 years at Covenant House locations in New York and New Jersey, reaching out to kids in a crisis and building programs that help them cross the bridge to hope and opportunity.

As our international leader, Kevin is charged with overseeing all Covenant House locations and the many vital programs they offer in the United States, Latin America, and Canada.

Looking toward the future, his ultimate hope is that the work we do at Covenant House will one day no longer be necessary. But for now, Kevin will make sure that Covenant House continues to play a key role in solving the problem of youth homelessness – by looking at where needs exist, and responding to them with open arms, minds, and hearts.

Kevin is widely recognized as a significant advocate for youth and homeless kids, and has received numerous awards for his ongoing efforts:

  • United States Commissioner’s National Award, United States Department of Health and Human Services
  • Honorary Doctor of Laws, Montclair State University
  • Child Advocate of the Year, New Jersey Statewide Parent Advocacy Network
  • Richard J. Hughes Humanitarian of the Year, Catholic Charities
  • Public Policy Leaders’ Award, Rutgers University Commencement
  • Richard Hughes Prize, Seton Hall Law School
  • Friend of Children Award, American Academy of Pediatricians
  • Louis J. Lefkowitz Public Service Award, Fordham University School of Law
  • Annual Young Alumni Award of Distinction, Catholic University of America
  • Lawyer of the Year, New Jersey State Bar Association, Young Lawyers’ Division
  • Wasserstein Fellow, Harvard University Law School (for legal contributions in the public interest)
  • Youth Advocate of the Year, National Network for Youth, Washington, D.C. (shared with Sr. Mary Rose McGeady, President of Covenant House, for legislative advocacy on the federal juvenile crime bills, the New Jersey Homeless Youth Act and the New Jersey Family Care Act)
  • Skadden Fellow, Skadden Fellowship Foundation
  • President’s Medal/Baccalaureate Speaker, Catholic University graduation, May 1989

He is a graduate of The Catholic University of America (B.A.); Georgetown Law Center (J.D.) and New York University Law School (LL.M.). He and is wife Clare live in New Jersey with their 6 children.