You can t dream of a future when the street is your reality.
For 25 years, Covenant House New Orleans has provided a safe haven for homeless, runaway and at-risk youth ages 16-22. Located on the edge of the French Quarter, we care for neglected and abused kids from the New Orleans area and from across the United States. Covenant House is governed by a local, volunteer Board of Directors and staffed with experienced, dedicated professionals and volunteers. 3
Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness, for he is truly his brother s keeper and the finder of lost children. Ezekiel 25:17 4 Outreach Our specially trained team reaches out to kids on the street and in abandoned buildings. Some of our kid s runaway from good homes, others from abusive situations. The vast majority are pushed out of homes that no longer want them. On the street and alone they struggle to survive. If you need help: call our Crisis Hotline 504-584-1111. Crisis Care and Emergency Housing The doors of the Ciaccio Crisis Center are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When kids walk through our doors, we provide a hot meal, clothes, a bed, caring staff and so much more. Our first goal is to reunite kids with family. All too often, that is not a viable option. So our case managers and counselors help them find jobs and housing, important steps in the transition to independent living. Individual medical assessments are provided within 72 hours. Adolescent and pediatric health services are provided on site by Tulane Medical
Knowing the dangers of the street, we will never turn a child away no matter how full we are. Jim Kelly, Executive Director School. For some kids, treatment for substance abuse and behavioral/mental health issues is critically important, and licensed professionals are here to help them. A personalized case plan is also developed with each youth. It includes goals in employment, education, health, parenting, and other areas. We enroll our kids in a variety of skill building classes based on their assessments. Classes cover life skills and parenting issues, computer literacy and job readiness training, job search, journaling, and values communication (anger management, conflict resolution, ). Literacy and GED prep classes are provided off-site by NOPLAY and other community partners. We work with our residents every step of the way. Once they are working, they save 80% of each paycheck. When they have enough money, we help them locate an affordable apartment. Our support will continue as long as they need us. Our young mothers with children benefit from Early Head Start run by Total Community Action and the Urban League. Moms can continue their education, work, find an apartment and build independence while their young children receive pre-school education. 5
The staff here at Covenant House have had a big impact on my life, and if I hadn t come here, I don t know where I d be or what I d be doing with my life. 6
We are part of Covenant House International, the largest provider of services to homeless and at-risk youth in North America. Rights of Passage Transitional Living Program Youth who are highly motivated have another opportunity for housing and support while they work and finish their education. Our Rights of Passage (ROP) residential program is a university for street kids. ROP youth have their own residence on our campus. They attend school and work between 50 to 55 hours a week. We provide case management support while they build skills and resources for independent living. Kids save 40% of their income and contribute 20% for food and rent. Permanent Supportive Housing For our youth and young parents with a diagnosed disability, we offer Permanent Supportive Housing. We deliver long-term housing, counseling and case management, health and mental health care, and financial assistance. Job Training White Dove Landscaping is a full service landscape and design program run by Covenant House. Interns in our job readiness and training program learn about plant propagation, garden design, landscape installation and maintenance. Then we help them find jobs. Our kids also enroll in other job training programs in the community, such as Café Reconcile, Goodwill, Job 1, Liberty s Kitchen and Youth Build. 7
I want to go to college and become a surgical nurse so I can make enough money to give back to the people at Covenant House. 8 PHOTO & #2, #6 on cover: Cheryl Gerber
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me... Matthew 25:31-46 Please Support Covenant House This year we will provide over 50,000 nights of care and housing 100% success rate for feeding, clothing, and housing homeless youth in crisis +48% success rate for placing homeless youth and families in stable living situations Soon after I was born my mom went to prison and my dad died from HIV. My grandma took care of my sisters and me until she died when I was 11. They split my Average Daily Census: Youth Shelter/Crisis Center: 57 Rights of Passage: 32 Offsite Apartments: 48 Total: 137 Programs 84% Fundraising 4% Management 12% sisters and me up and I went to my aunt s but she was a drug user and couldn t take care of me. 9
I thank God and every staff here for providing me an opportunity to start over and have endless possibilities. 10 PHOTO: Jackson Hill
We would like to extend a warm thank you to our partners in service to youth: Café Reconcile, Catholic Charities, the City of New Orleans and Job 1, Freedom Fellowship Ministries, Goodwill, Liberty s Kitchen, St. Judes, Total Community Action, Tulane Community Health Clinic and Drop-In Center, UNITY, the Urban League, VOA, Youth Build and the Youth Empowerment Project/NOPLAY, Our Guiding Principles Immediacy: In crisis, needing life s basics of food, clothing and housing, the kids come to Covenant House day or night and are accepted without question or cost. Sanctuary: We offer kids protection from the streets and from their past. We stress the reality of the present moment, and encourage belief in their potential for the future. Values Communication: Lasting, caring relationships are built on trust, respect and honesty. We teach our kids that the values of street life are destructive. Structure: Stability is unknown on the streets. We offer kids guidelines, plans and options, not rules and regulations that will impede them. Choice: Change, freely chosen, brings the surest progress. We assist our kids in making positive decisions about their future. 11
Support our mission and our kids Advocate for Youth and Children Share our mission with your family and friends. Spend more time with your children and grandchildren. Support legislation that protects and safeguards children and families. Get Connected to Covenant House www.covenanthouseno.org Volunteer By donating your time, you can become part of the positive change in our kids lives. Please contact us at (504) 584-1103 to learn about our current volunteer opportunities. Donate It costs $77 a day to care for a youth in crisis. We are 83% privately funded and depend on individuals like you to continue our work. Donate online at www.covenanthouseno.org. MISSION STATEMENT We who recognize God s providence and fidelity to His people are dedicated to living out His Covenant among ourselves and those children we serve, with absolute respect and unconditional love. That commitment calls us to serve suffering children of the street, and to protect and safeguard all children. Just as Christ in His Humanity is the visible sign of God s presence among His people, so our efforts together in the covenant community are a visible sign that effects the presence of God, working through the Holy Spirit among ourselves and our kids. Pray Pray for our kids. With God s grace, we can help them turn their lives around and have futures filled with hope and peace. 611 North Rampart Street New Orleans, LA 70112 504-584-1111 www.covenanthouseno.org