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The issues

How many youth are living on our streets? What dangers do they face? Learn the issues - from foster care to child trafficking - that impact and drive youth homelessness.

Youth on Subway

Youth Homelessness

We strive to be the model of care for homeless youth in the U.S., Canada and Latin America – and doing so takes knowing the facts, reasons and effects of more than a million kids living on the streets.

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Women in profile on sidewalk

Human trafficking

As you read this, the sex trafficking industry is thriving in all 50 states… and homeless and runaway teens are the easiest targets. Covenant House protects these young victims and defends their human rights.

HOW WE FIGHT TRAFFICKING
Youth become homeless when they age out of foster care

Foster Care

Approximately 20,000 young people "age out" of foster care each year. Without a positive support system, basic life skills or any family connection at all, nearly 40% of these kids will become homeless.

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Homeless kids often have no access to healthcare

Physical and Mental Health

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, homeless youth are more than twice as likely to have a disability or illness compared to the general population.

ALL CHILDREN DESERVE HEALTHCARE
Homeless youth looking for a job

Lack of Job Training

For young people living on the streets, finding a job is very difficult, if not impossible. Many have no education and no one to offer guidance or to show them how to write a resume, how to search, or how to prepare for an interview.

LEARN WHAT WE CAN DO
Youth Leaning on a Fence

Justice System Involvement

Kids without role models can easily be lured into making bad choices. For these at-risk youth, the juvenile justice system is a revolving door that often returns them to the environment where the problem began.

JUVENILE JUSTICE: A ROAD TO HOMELESSNESS
Living wages

Living Wages

The gap between the Federal Minimum Wage and the cost of basic rental housing in urban America is increasing. For youth entering the workforce, having a job doesn't always mean having a roof over their heads.

THE EMPLOYED HOMELESS
Photo of 4 youth

Meet our kids

The brave kids who walk through our shelter doors are our inspiration in everything we do. Get to know these courageous young people and show them that their lives matter.

MEET OUR KIDS