Global Sleep Out Event Raises Over $14 Million to Fight Youth Homelessness

More than 3,000 advocates heeded Covenant House’s call to “Take Action!” during Youth Homelessness Awareness Month this November, participating in a total of 23 Sleep Out events that, collectively, raised more than $14 million to support young people overcoming homelessness at Covenant House. 

The largest night of action was Nov. 20, when 19 separate Sleep Out events were held across North America. The night ranged from balmy (South Florida) to frigid (Anchorage, Alaska) to everything in between. But participants said Sleeping Out in the elements and on the hard ground was worth it to meaningfully contribute to reversing and ending the youth homelessness crisis.  

Lauren and Mason Aguiar, who are nearing their $40,000 fundraising goal, are committed to being part of this important movement together, “to send the message that no matter how old you are, you can contribute to solving a social problem.” This was Lauren’s 10th Sleep Out and Mason’s third at age 15. They have both been involved with Covenant House for many years — serving meals, donating toys, speaking at rallies, and Lauren’s service on the Board.  

Funds raised through Sleep Out support Covenant House services like safe shelter, meals, medical and mental healthcare, education, and career development. Youth in need can access these services 24/7 at our sites in 34 cities across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. The funds will also help us reach our strategic goal of ending youth homelessness as we know it today.  

This year, Sleep Out venues included three big-league stadiums: the Patriots’ Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts; MetLife, in New Jersey, home to the Giants and Jets; and, for the first time, Citizens Bank Park, home to the Philadelphia Phillies, where Sleepers were invited to sleep on the outfield — another first. 

Solutions-Focused 

For the Phillies’ front office, hosting the Sleep Out was an easy decision. “Over 10,000 children in Philadelphia have experienced homelessness just this year alone, and that is unconscionable. It is our objective to bring shelter, stability and hope to children who so desperately need it,” said club owner John Middleton. 

Covenant House CEO and President Bill Bedrossian reminded Sleepers at Citizens Bank Park of the meteoric rise in the number of people living on the streets or unsafely housed over the past decade. “Homelessness is growing in the U.S. by about 12% annually,” he said. “That means that over the next 10 years, if we don’t do something now, the number of homeless youth will triple.” 

Rebecca Ebert, KBRA's Global Head of Regulatory and Government Affairs, took her advocacy to the next level by participating in two Sleep Outs this season. At the first, held in Mexico city in late October, she shared that "the work we do here is not just to help kids, but also to try to prevent more kids from needing our help." Rebecca’s second Sleep Out was last Thursday with her company, and collectively they raised $56,000. 

In New York City, where participants spent the night outside the Jacob Javits Center, Covenant House Chief Strategy Officer Ginger Pryor underscored how Sleepers’ fundraising efforts both support youth right now and support Covenant House’s plan to end youth homelessness, The Journey Home.  

“Since our founding more than 50 years ago, Covenant House has served over 1.5 million young people. We've done a lot. But we have to do more. If we’re going to end the crisis, we have to get further upstream,” Ginger said. The Journey Home is designed not only to halt the youth homelessness crisis but to reverse it, she added: “To halve the number of youth facing homelessness by 2035.” 

The plan outlines homelessness prevention and aftercare measures to keep youth safely housed. It also supports the continual development of our evidence-based, trauma-informed practices to ensure the highest quality care for our residents.  

Brian Cashman, the New York Yankees’ general manager, was among the 350 participants in New York City, joining for his 14th Sleep Out. “The world is getting tougher and tougher,” he said. “It’s so much more important than ever that Covenant House is strong and stays strong so that they can try to impact as many kids as they can.”  

Global Sleep Out to Address Local Needs 

Covenant House has been hosting Sleep Outs as a means to build awareness of youth homelessness and raise critical funds for our programs since the first 48 Sleepers took to the sidewalk on a chilly night in 2011.  

Since then, more than 65,000 people have raised over $170 million to fund Covenant House programs and services. Now, their contributions go even further, funding prevention and restoration efforts, including the creation of affordable-for-youth housing. 

All funds raised in the states and countries where we work go directly to the local Covenant House site. Funds raised by our international office are shared among all our locations. 2025 Global Sleep Out teams included: Accenture, Anywhere Gives, Cisco, Delta Air Lines, and Ulta Beauty. 

Sleepers understand that when they choose to spend one night on the pavement, it is not about pretending to be homeless. One uncomfortable night could never compare to the harsh reality our youth face, but it is a meaningful act of solidarity that tells young people we see them and we want better for them. 

This point was reiterated by Wil Reynolds, a Covenant House Pennsylvania board member who has participated since the very first Sleep Out in Philadelphia. He said, “When you’re out there, and it’s cold, you look at every other person on the streets differently because you’ve gotten a feel of the chill. You didn’t feel the hopelessness, you didn’t feel the abandonment, you didn’t feel like, man, nobody cares about me, but it is still the feeling of the vulnerability along with the bitter cold that you just don’t forget.” 

Find a Covenant House Sleep Out near you or start your own event: sleepout.org