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Covenant House
Opening Doors For Homeless & Trafficked Youth

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Mark's Dream

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“At 16 years old, I tried my hardest to take care of my mom, my brothers, and myself. I got a job at McDonald’s and would work as many hours as I could to pay the rent and put food on the table. One night, I found my mom asleep on the floor and strange substances on the table. That night, I packed up and took my little brothers to my grandma’s house. I love my grandma, but her house was filled with my brothers and cousins. I knew I couldn’t stay.

I took a chance and moved to New York City where my grandfather lives. After a few months, he became convinced that I was doing drugs like my mom and dad. I begged and pleaded that he believe me or drug test me to prove that I wasn’t using. He asked that I pack up and leave.

I slept on park benches, if I slept at all. Tired of life on the streets, I found an adult men’s shelter. There was a lot of drugs and violence. An older resident there told me about Covenant House International. He said it was a shelter for young people like me. My dream is to get my GED, go to college, and study aeronautical engineering. At Covenant House, that dream is closer than ever. I am one story of hundreds here, and on behalf of all of those young people choosing a better life I say: thank you for allowing us to chase our dreams.”

-Mark

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Covenant House

Opening Doors For Homeless & Trafficked Youth

Millions of kids suffer on the streets every day. For over 40 years, Covenant House has sheltered and cared for these young people – now standing as a powerful human rights movement for homeless and trafficked youth in 31 cities across 6 countries.

Covenant House is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization;
(EIN/Tax ID number: 13-2725416 DUNS number: 07-520-9411).
461 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY‎ 10001 | 800-388-3888‎ | Email us info@covenanthouse.org
Copyright 2021. All rights reserved.

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