Former Covenant House Toronto Youth Speaks at the U.N.

Every October 10, people around the world pause for World Homeless Day. It is a day to look closely at homelessness, who it touches, why it happens, and what it will take to end it. Since it began in 2010, the day has grown into a global call to replace stigma with understanding and turn awareness into action.

This year, Covenant House was honored to be part of that call at the international level.

On Friday, Oct. 9, on the eve of World Homeless Day, Covenant House joined a webinar hosted by the United Nations Nongovernmental Organization Working Group to End Homelessness.

The working group brings together about 30 organizations, both faith-based and secular. They advocate at the U.N. for the human right to adequate housing for all, and they push governments to measure homelessness, confront it, and ultimately end it. Their work helped make homelessness the priority theme of a U.N. commission for the first time, and it helped lead to the U.N. General Assembly's first-ever resolution on homelessness in 2021.

Being invited to the table alongside advocates, policymakers, and partners from across the globe was a privilege. That invitation reflects something Covenant House has built for more than five decades, proving that ours is a voice that leaders around the world trust on youth homelessness. When global policymakers look for what works, they turn to the people closest to the work and to the young people who have lived it. We were proud to be in the room as both.

It was also a reminder that the young people we serve at 34 sites in five countries are part of a much larger story. Youth homelessness doesn't stop at any border, and neither should our awareness and response.

Joy Brings Lived Experience to Global Forum

The proudest part of the day came from one of our own former residents. Joy, 27, joined the webinar as a panelist. Joy arrived at Covenant House Toronto after running away from an untenable situation at home. She remembers being met with love and respect from the very first day. Her birthday came the day after she arrived. She was so overwhelmed by everything happening around her that she forgot it entirely, but staff didn't. They surprised her with a cake and a celebration.

From there, Joy did the hard, brave work of healing and building. With support from therapists and program staff, she learned to care for herself, set goals, and gather the practical tools of independence, from opening a bank account to getting a health card.

Today, Joy is working, pursuing a degree, and has taken custody of her younger sister. She is also writing a book about her journey so that other young people can find their way forward too.

Joy spoke openly about what brought her to our doors. “I came to Canada running from an arranged marriage,” she said. “Now my younger sister is escaping the same thing, and I’m the one taking care of her. Someone gave me a safe place to start over. Now I get to give her that, too.”

Her story is a reminder that when one young person finds safety, it often spreads to the people they love.

Last Friday, the young woman who once walked through our doors unsure of what to expect spoke to an international audience about what it takes to end homelessness. Her voice carried the experience of every young person still waiting for a door to open.

__________

On World Homeless Day and every day, thank you for being one of those people. Donate to help young people overcome homelessness, or learn more about our advocacy efforts to advance policies that protect their rights and create lasting change.