Homeless teen received crisis care at Covenant House

Our Crisis Care Center helped Michael escape gang violence and build a new plan for his future.

Crisis Counseling, Case Management, and More…
 

Every year, in the US alone, as many as 2 million youth experience an episode of homelessness.

For many of these kids, the Covenant House Crisis Care program is not only a haven from the streets – it’s a leap toward pursuing an independent and fulfilling life.

Crisis care is the starting point and cornerstone of the Covenant House mission to serve homeless kids and runaway youth.

Our Crisis Care Centers are always open – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – for needy kids who suddenly find themselves with nowhere to go.

Covenant House Crisis Care: Much More Than Just a Shelter
 

Unlike other shelters, Covenant House never turns any homeless kid away unless he or she is a danger to him or herself or to others. Every new young person who comes to Covenant House does so voluntarily, and is welcomed with loving arms. The Covenant House staff takes great care in completing our thorough intake process quickly so that our new guests can begin to feel comfortable and at home right away.

Our first goal is immediate comfort… giving kids a shower, warm meal, bed, and clean change of clothes.

“When my mom got drunk, she’d lock me out. I’d get so hungry.”
—Michael

We then work to reunite our kids with their families. But if this simply isn’t possible, our crisis-care counselors begin working with the kids on a plan to guide them toward independent living. Eligible residents are often referred to our long-term transitional living program, Rights of Passage, while others are referred to other partnering organizations that can best meet their needs.

Many Covenant House Crisis Care Centers also provide special programs for clients with mental illness and/or substance-abuse issues. Many others run specialized services for adolescent mothers and their children.

At an age when most kids are learning how to add and subtract, Michael was struggling to survive.
Read how our Crisis Care Program helped Michael survive his past and build a plan for his future.