FAQ's

How do youth find out about Covenant House Washington?

Our best referral to our programs and services has been word of mouth. Youth previously and currently served by CHW often tell their friends and relatives about the positive difference Covenant House has made in their lives and that the agency can help them too. Relationships and partnerships with local businesses, community organizations, and other like-agencies are also sources of referrals to our programs. Members of our Mobile Outreach Support Team (MOST) are often the first line of communication with young people on the street. Known as the God Squad, MOST members travel through the roughest neighborhoods, scouring the toughest streets to let youth know that CHW truly cares about them. Youth in emergency situations can call our Youth Hotline commonly known as the NineLine: 1-800-999-9999. A caring counselor will answer the phone and connect youth in trouble to the nearest Covenant House. No youth in crisis is ever turned away.

How do youth sign up for services at Covenant House Washington?

Helping youth move from a state of crisis to a state of calm assurance is the primary responsibility of Service Management. Service Managers play a vital role in identifying and securing much-needed services to help youth in crisis meet their immediate and long-term goals. Service Managers connect youth to a variety of services such as housing, day care, education, job training, and medical care. Working together, youth and service managers establish goals and objectives to assist youth in turning their lives around. Youth can contact Service Management at 202-610-9632 or through the NineLine at 1-800-999-9999.

Where do the youth at Covenant House come from?

They come from various places. Some are from the local Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. They may have come from a highly dysfunctional living environment and are no longer able to live at home or with relatives. They may be high school drop outs who have now realized they need a GED or better skills to get a decent job. They may have fallen prey to substance abuse or domestic abuse, and now need refuge from the streets. While the majority of youth currently served by CHW come from D.C. and Maryland, we welcome and willingly serve any youth in crisis. The NineLine, our emergency hotline for youth, refers youth across the nation to the Covenant House nearest them. No matter their location, if they call Covenant House, we will answer.

What do youth enrolled in your program do all day?

It depends on what their goals are. After completing a psychosocial assessment and a skills assessment, youth at Covenant House may be enrolled in education or job training classes. Others may have secured employment through CHW and are working. Many times, youth coming off the streets do not have the necessary documents to assist them in securing housing, getting a job, or getting medical attention, i.e. birth certificates, driver´s license, social security cards, etc. Once the crisis issue has been stabilized, youth can concentrate on securing needed documentation to further enhance their lives.

How long do youth stay at Covenant House Washington?

Each youth progresses at his or her own pace. Youth can reside in our Crisis Center up to 90 days. Our Transitional Living Program is an 18-month supportive housing program that assists youth in developing the skills and independence needed to live on their own. Rights of Passage is a supportive, structured housing program for youth ages 18 -24 that allows them additional time to transition from a state of crisis and dependency to a level of stability and independence. With the assistance of the PLATO Learning Software, youth in our education program work at their own pace. Our Artisans Woodworking program is a six-month career training program that teach youth the techniques and applied craft of woodworking. In short, it all depends on how motivated a young person is to reaching his or her goals. Moving from street life to a life of structure and discipline is not an easy task. But CHW staff guide youth each step of the way.

Do you contact youths' parents?

Whenever possible, CHW seeks to reunite youth with their families. In some cases, youth and their parents need to talk with an objective person, a service manager, to resolve disagreements and misunderstandings. In other cases, family reunification is not in the best interest of those involved. Our primary goal is to ensure that the needs of youth are handled in the best possible manner. We treat each youth and their circumstance on a case by case basis.

Do you ever put youth out of your programs?

Covenant House Washington provides youth the structure and discipline often lacking in their lives. For many youth, this is not an easy adjustment. Our rules and regulations are in place to ensure the safety and well being of all who are served by the agency. When issues of inappropriate behavior arise, they are reviewed on a case by case basis. The nature of the offense and the number of repeat offenses determine whether or not a youth will be terminated from our services. If after a reasonable time of separation the youth is in need of the services offered by Covenant House and can demonstrate a sincere commitment to modify his or her behavior and adhere to our policies and procedures, we will consider allowing him or her to reengage with our program services.

What causes youth to become homeless?

There is no one or simple answer to this question. Youth today face challenges that many adults rarely, if ever, had to contend with during their childhood. Inadequate or lack of education, lack of employment, poverty, domestic abuse, violence in and out the home, teen pregnancy, substance abuse, undiagnosed or improperly diagnosed mental health issues, peer pressure, an unwillingness to abide by the structure parents enforce are among the reasons youth become homeless. (Click here to learn more about the risk factors identified by Covenant House Washington). Whatever the cause, the rate of youth homelessness is alarming. Almost 40 percent of the homeless in the United States are under the age of 18. According to a study conducted by the Center for Law and Social Policy, nearly 50 percent of youth in shelters reported intense conflict or physical harm by a family member as a major contributing factor to their homelessness. Covenant House exists for the sole purpose of helping youth in crisis get their life back on track. No matter their circumstance or issues, we believe in their potential.

What are your operating expenses?

The International Covenant House organization is the largest privately funded agency in North and South America serving homeless, runaway, throwaway, and at-risk youth. We rely on the support of individuals, foundations, business, and government grants to support our efforts to help youth in crisis. For FY'06, 79 percent of our operating expenses was dedicated to programs and services that directly impact youth; 14 percent was dedicated to administrative services, and seven percent (7%) to fundraising efforts. (Click here to view our FY '06 Financial Statement).

How can I make a difference?

Your financial contribution can make an enormous impact in the lives of youth served by Covenant House Washington. We need significant dollars to support our Crisis Center and to fund other programs and services to get youth back on their feet and headed in the right direction. Should a financial commitment be too challenging for you at this time, you as a caring, mature adult have a wealth of talent, experience, and skills that could prove invaluable to a youth in crisis. The time you volunteer to tutor, conduct a workshop, or spruce up one of our centers will go a long way in motivating youth to become the best they can be. (Click here to learn more about donating to CHW).