April 20 (Day 51) - Helping Homeless & Run-Away Youth

 

Covenant House’s Vision to Help Homeless Kids

Our mission is to fight for the rights of homeless kids… to speak for those who have no voice of their own.There are estimated to be nearly a million homeless kids in cities, towns, and communities across America, and every year over 5,000 of these young people lose their lives to the streets. Their hope and promise is lost forever unless they find someone – like Covenant House – to love and care for them.

Covenant House doesn’t forget about all the kids who are no longer here because no one cared – we hold their memory in our hearts while moving forward in our efforts to help all the scared and lonely kids who are still out there, waiting.

Homeless kids have rights. They have the right to a home… the right to food… the right to guidance and an education… the right to be free from sexual, emotional, or physical abuse… and to be free from exploitation. These kids have the right to be safe and – most importantly – to be loved.

Statistics:

For thousands of kids, homelessness is a frightening -- and daily -- reality.

Why are there over a million youth sleeping on the streets of America?

Behind the face of every homeless young person is another heart-breaking story – a teenage boy abused by his alcoholic parent... or a pregnant girl rejected by her guardian… or a teenager trying to escape gang membership or a life of forced prostitution.  In case after case, the main cause of youth homelessness is physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse from parents or guardians.

The facts about homelessness are staggering… but acknowledging the depth of the problem is the first step in fixing it.

• 57% of homeless kids spend at least one day every month without food.
• In the United States, as many as 20,000 kids are forced into prostitution by human trafficking networks every year.
• According to a study of youth in shelters, nearly 50% reported intense conflict or physical harm by a family member as a major contributing factor to their homelessness.
• Over 25% of former foster children become homeless within two to four years of leaving the system.
• 50% of adolescents aging out of foster care and juvenile justice systems will be homeless within six months because they are unprepared to live independently, have limited education and no social support.
• Almost 40% of the homeless in the United States are under 18.

In addition to these heartbreaking statistics, a study recently issued by the Covenant House Institute, revealed that:

• 41% of Covenant House kids witnessed acts of violence in their homes.
• 36% of Covenant House kids indicated that someone in their family used drugs regularly.
• 19% of Covenant House kids reported being beaten with an object.
• 19% of Covenant House kids reported that they have endured sexual abuse.
• 15% of Covenant House kids reported someone close to them had been murdered.

That’s why Covenant house works day and night to provide shelter and support for kids who have endured lives of abuse, neglect, and homelessness. In 2008, Covenant House provided services to more than 70,000 of these kids. Our Residential and Community Service Center programs cared for 29,922 homeless kids while Covenant House Street Outreach teams served an additional 40,453 homeless and at-risk youth on the streets in the 20 cities where Covenant House operates.

Visit the Covenant House website and learn more about Covenant House and the help they provide young people.  Read the stories of the young people who are helped by Covenant House.  Click here to find out how you can take action.  Take a look at the gift catalog and see how you can donate to help! 

Please consider helping Covenant House help young people! 

Source: Covenant House