Residential Services

Everyone needs a safe place to sleep. For homeless youth, sleep can be one of the scariest things in the world. Responding to the emergency and longer-term housing needs of young people who are homeless, runaways, or otherwise marginally housed, Residential Services staff welcome youth in from the harshness of the streets or abusive home environments. Covenant House Washington offers three programs for youth 18 and older.

The Crisis Center provides short-term sanctuary to youth and their children in a supervised, apartment living setting. During their 90-day stay, youth receive services that assist in stabilizing the crisis and enabling them to become self-supporting adults. Residents share a room and have access to laundry facilities, a computer lab, a recreation room and a playroom for children. Onsite staff work with youth to create and maintain an atmosphere of mutual respect, accountability, and interdependency to help make meaningful life changes.

Rights of Passage is a supportive, structured housing program for homeless youth ages 18 - 24 that assists them in transitioning from crisis and dependency to a level of stablity and independence. Youth selected for this program must demonstrate a commitment to work on short- and long-term goals that will lead to self-sufficency. ROP staff work with service managers to ensure that youth needs are met. The group living environment is based on the belief that every youth needs and should have support to become a productive, responsible adult.

The Transitional Living Program is an 18-month supported independent living program that offers youth a comprehensive array of services and support activities that can lead them from dependency and negative lifestyle choices to independent living. Youth must apply for admission into the program. The apartment style living format gives youth a sense of living on their own while developing a rental history that can assist them in securing an apartment or a home. Each resident shares a fully furnished apartment with one or two other youth. Residents pay 30 percent of income to rent and 20 percent of income to savings. All money is returned to youth upon successful completion of the program. To reside in TLP, youth must be employed or engaged in higher education or training activities. At the end of their stay, youth should be prepared to transition into their own apartment or house.