Housing Hope: Covenant House Illinois Helps 17 Youth Move Forward 

Reshared from CHIL Times, the Covenant House Illinois newsletter. 

For young people experiencing homelessness, the wait for permanent housing can stretch from months into years. But on a remarkable day at Covenant House Illinois, 17 youth moved one giant step closer to stability, all in a single afternoon. 

In partnership with All Chicago, Covenant House Illinois hosted an Accelerated Moving Event (AME) on campus in June, offering young people direct access to rapid housing. The AME is part of the city’s Coordinated Entry System (CES), a centralized database that matches individuals experiencing homelessness with housing opportunities based on their unique needs and vulnerabilities. 

To be selected for an AME through CES is already a major milestone. But having the event take place right on campus, inside a space where youth feel safe, known, and supported, made the experience even more impactful. 

Among the 17 young people was Joshua, who first connected with Covenant House two years ago at our drop-in center after years of bouncing between temporary living situations. By January of this year, Joshua was accepted into the interim housing program. Just a few months later, thanks to the AME, he was holding the keys to a new beginning. 

“This was more than just an event. It was a launchpad,” said a Covenant House Illinois staff member. “Seventeen young people left here that day with more than a lease. They left with hope.” 

With partnerships like these, CHIL is making sure youth don’t just wait for stability, they move toward it.