24/7 Safety and Hope: Love Answered the Door for Kendra

11:23 p.m. is the moment Kendra will always remember. After months of homelessness, uncertainty, and fear, she walked through our doors and was welcomed with open arms, even though it was late.

Kendra never expected to be homeless, especially as a teenager. Even more, she never expected to be homeless with a child.

When Kendra found herself pregnant, she did the only thing she could think of. She went to her mother. But Kendra had five other siblings, and her mom was already overwhelmed making ends meet.

There was no room and no money for a baby. So, Kendra’s mom asked her to leave.

Alone on the streets with a baby on the way, Kendra had to find a safe place to stay – and fast. For a while, she stayed with her baby’s father. Then she would move from one friend’s house to another.

Having no safe, secure place to sleep is hard on any young person. It was even tougher for a mother-to-be.

Kendra’s son, Finn, was born on Christmas. And still, mother and child had nowhere to stay.

For months, Kendra tried to make things work. But her son was about to turn one, and she knew she wanted Finn to spend his first birthday somewhere safe. That’s when she found Covenant House. At 11:23 p.m., she came through our doors. “Me and Finn felt at home right away,” she recalls.

Kendra came to Covenant House looking for stability and support, and she took advantage of every opportunity. After securing a job, she moved into our transitional housing program, where she and Finn had their own room.

Within a few months, she was promoted to a manager role because of her work ethic and punctuality. She began saving money with the goal of finding an apartment and attending college.

“I feel very blessed,” Kendra says. “I feel like I have the support now to be happy and to move on with my life.”

For the first time since she left home, Kendra is feeling hopeful for her future. She even gives herself permission to dream.

And her dream? It’s beautiful. One day, Kendra hopes to help other young people like her who are struggling. That’s why she is saving for college, where she wants to study social work or early childhood education.

Kendra’s dreams are her own, yet they are made possible because of caring friends like you. Thank you for making sure our doors are open 24/7, whether it’s 11:23 at night or 6:30 in the morning. Without your generous support, we couldn’t be there for the next young person like Kendra who comes knocking.