Covenant House Hill Day 2025 

Policy change doesn’t happen without showing up. This year, 51 attendees representing four countries and 22 states — including Covenant House youth, staff, and advocates — traveled to Capitol Hill to build support for urgently needed housing and support services for young people overcoming homelessness. They championed programs such as workforce development, mental health services, and community-based initiatives that promote the well-being and success of homeless youth. 

Highlights from Hill Day 

• Local and Global Representation: Advocates from across the U.S. and the Latin American countries where we also work united in Washington D.C. to push for stronger support for youth facing homelessness.
• Personal Stories Drive Impact: Youth and frontline staff shared powerful personal stories that moved lawmakers and highlighted the urgency of the issues.
• Key Policy Priorities: Advocacy centered on four key initiatives aimed at improving support for homeless youth and preventing trafficking.
• Global Engagement: New relationships were built with lawmakers, strengthening international partnerships for youth in Latin America. 

Sharing Lived Experiences with Lawmakers 

Throughout the day, our advocates did more than present policy points — they shared lived experiences. Young people spoke about their own journeys, and staff described the realities they witness daily on the ground. These heartfelt stories resonated deeply with lawmakers, underscoring the urgency of our mission. 

“People think that they're going to come there [Covenant House] and they're going to get a voucher, and it's not like that...,” one young resident shared with lawmakers. “We have to work towards building, ourselves and our lives to get where we need to be, because everything is not just handed to you.”  

“My first time coming to Covenant House [I thought], my family's supposed to help me. Why would these strangers, who’ve never met me before, who don't know me, who don’t know where I’m from, help me, you know?” another youth shared. “It feels like a home, you know, it feels like a home.”  

Key Legislative Priorities 

Their advocacy focused on four primary priorities aimed at improving services and protections for youth: 

1. Homeless Children and Youth Act — Expanding the definition of homelessness to ensure all youth experiencing homelessness can access housing and services.
2. Runaway & Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act — Guaranteeing safe housing options, including transitional housing, along with comprehensive wraparound services.
3. Affordable-for-Youth Housing — Engaging congressional leaders in targeted discussions about the critical need for specialized youth housing.
4. Latin America Initiatives — Protecting the safety and well-being of children and youth in Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala, where Covenant House works in Latin America, including those returning to their home countries. 

To ensure these priorities result in real impact, Covenant House also advocated for broader strategies, including: 

• Increasing investment in youth homelessness prevention to reduce chronic adult homelessness, lower long-term costs, and improve lives.
• Expanding comprehensive support for youth who need stable housing, wraparound services, and inclusive federal policies free from harmful restrictions.
• Reinforcing core programs such as the Runaway & Homeless Youth Act, which form the foundation of the federal response to youth homelessness.
• Securing stable, reliable funding for housing and services that allow providers to meet diverse local needs effectively. 

Strengthening International Partnerships 

We also built new relationships with congressional leaders, laying the groundwork for sustainable change. Covenant House CEOs from Honduras, Mexico, and Guatemala engaged legislators in meaningful conversations about the challenges and proven solutions they champion at our sites in Latin America. Lawmakers expressed gratitude for their tireless efforts, and we look forward to strengthening these international partnerships to support youth across the globe.

The Momentum Continues 

The momentum from Hill Day does not end here. We are following up with every office we visited — and more — to turn conversations into commitments, policies, and action. Our fight continues with renewed energy, as we plan the next steps for the communities and youth we represent. 

Add Your Voice to the Movement 

Send a message to urge Congress to support the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2025. 

Sign the letter to Congress