About
Covenant House builds a bridge to hope for young people experiencing homelessness, including survivors of human trafficking and young families, through what it describes as unconditional love, absolute respect, and relentless support. Founded in 1972 and headquartered in New York, the organization has opened its doors to more than 1.5 million young people since its founding and today provides a safe place to sleep for youth facing homelessness across six countries in North and Central America.
Mission
Covenant House states its purpose this way: "Inspired by faith, we are a community devoted to absolute respect and unconditional love ensuring that all youth experiencing homelessness can lead lives full of purpose and joy." Its work is guided by five core principles: immediacy, sanctuary, value communication, structure, and choice.
What they do
Covenant House sites are open 24/7 and offer a continuum of care that includes:
- Street and community outreach to young people experiencing homelessness
- Crisis care and emergency shelter, always free of charge
- Food and nutritious meals
- Medical care through on-site health centers at certain sites, along with mental health counseling and trauma-informed support such as yoga, art, and music therapy
- Education and job training, including workforce development and career pathway programs
- Transitional housing through the Rights of Passage program, which supports young people for up to 24 months
- Specialized support for LGBTQ+ youth, survivors of human trafficking, and pregnant and parenting youth
Scale and impact
According to figures published on the organization's website, in the past year Covenant House provided more than 896,000 nights of safe housing, served 1.9 million meals, and reached more than 63,000 young people through its services. More than 2,500 young people wake up in a Covenant House bed every day. The organization notes that an estimated 4.2 million young people in the United States experience a period of homelessness each year.
Financials
The parent organization, Covenant House (EIN 13-2725416), reported total revenue of 88.3 million dollars, total functional expenses of 93.5 million dollars, and total assets of 154.7 million dollars for the fiscal year ending June 2023, per its IRS Form 990 as published by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. (Local Covenant House affiliates file separate returns.) The organization has been recognized as tax-exempt since 1973.
Governance
Covenant House is led by President and CEO Bill Bedrossian, who joined the organization in February 2023. Its international work includes Covenant House Guatemala, led by CEO Carolina Escobar Sarti, Ph.D., who has directed the Guatemala program since 2010.