Ch Pennsylvania Under - 21

OUR MISSION IS TO SERVE CHILDREN AND YOUTH FACING HOMELESSNESS AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND TO PROTECT AND SAFEGUARD ALL CHILDREN. WE PROVIDE CRISIS CARE INTERVENTION FOR YOUTH WHO ARE IN NEED.

SHORT-TERM HOUSING AND CRISIS CARE (IMMEDIATE HOUSING):COVENANT HOUSE PENNSYLVANIA (CHPA) WELCOMES ALL YOUNG PEOPLE FACING HOMELESSNESS WITH UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, ABSOLUTE RESPECT, AND RELENTLESS SUPPORT, AND OUR SHELTER DOORS ARE ALWAYS OPEN. EVEN DURING THE WORST PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS IN A CENTURY, WE QUICKLY ADJUSTED OUR PROCEDURES, PROVIDED FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND KEPT OUR PROGRAMS GOING. WE KNOW YOUNG PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS CAN'T WAIT FOR A CRISIS LIKE THIS TO BE OVER. THEIR UNMET NEEDS FOR NUTRITIOUS FOOD, CLOTHING, SHELTER, SAFETY, MEDICAL CARE, AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE REQUIRE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. CHPA PROVIDES HIGH-QUALITY SERVICES AND PROGRAMS TO MEET THOSE NEEDS, STABILIZE A YOUNG PERSON'S SITUATION, AND HELP THEM BEGIN TO CONSIDER THEIR LONGER-TERM GOALS FOR EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND CAREER PLANNING. WE ARE EXPERTLY EQUIPPED TO RESPOND TO THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF YOUNG SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, THOSE WHO IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ, AND THOSE WHO ARE PREGNANT OR PARENTING. CHPA'S LARGEST PROGRAM IS THE CRISIS SHELTER LOCATED AT 31 E. ARMAT STREET IN THE GERMANTOWN SECTION OF PHILADELPHIA. THE SHELTER HAS THE CAPACITY TO HOUSE 76 YOUTH AGED 21 AND UNDER. YOUTH CAN ACCESS THE SHELTER 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR THROUGH AN OPEN INTAKE PROCESS. BEYOND EMERGENCY SHELTER AT THIS LOCATION, CHPA PROVIDES SHELTER, FOOD, CASE MANAGEMENT, EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL SUPPORT ALONG WITH MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. DURING FY21, CHPA REACHED 726 YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS CORE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. WE PROVIDED 20,050 NIGHTS OF HOUSING, SERVED 391 YOUTH IN RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS, MOVED 105 YOUTH TO STABLE HOUSING AND 55 YOUTH SLEPT IN A CHPA BED EACH NIGHT, ON AVERAGE.

TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM - RIGHTS OF PASSAGE (ROP):CHPA'S TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM, RIGHTS OF PASSAGE (ROP), OFFERS YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES TO TAKE THEIR BOLDEST STEPS TOWARD INDEPENDENCE. YOUTH LIVE IN ROP FOR UP TO 18 MONTHS, WHERE THEY TAP THEIR POTENTIAL AND PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. HERE THEY BUILD BASIC LIFE SKILLS AND FINANCIAL LITERACY, PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS, SEEK EMPLOYMENT WITH LONG-TERM ADVANCEMENT AND CAREER PROSPECTS, AND WORK TOWARD MOVING INTO THEIR OWN SAFE AND STABLE HOUSING. OUR STAFF SUPPORTS EACH YOUNG PERSON ON THEIR JOURNEY TOWARD SUSTAINABLE INDEPENDENCE AND A HOPE-FILLED FUTURE. CHPA'S TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM OPERATES FROM A 20-BED FACILITY LOCATED AT 2625 KENSINGTON AVENUE.

OUTREACH AND DROP-IN CENTERS:IN VANS AND ON FOOT, CHPA OUTREACH WORKERS IN PHILADELPHIA AND YORK GO OUT TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS, BARRIOS, WATERFRONTS, PARKS, AND OTHER PLACES WHERE YOUTH FACING HOMELESSNESS OFTEN SEEK REFUGE. THEY OFFER FOOD, WATER, ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES, COUNSELING AND INVITE THEM TO COME TO CHPA, WHERE THEIR IMMEDIATE, BASIC NEEDS CAN BE MET. THROUGH RELENTLESS ENGAGEMENT, OUR OUTREACH WORKERS BUILD TRUST WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE, THE FIRST STEP TOWARD ENCOURAGING THEM TO COME INTO CHPA AND CONNECT TO OUR SERVICES. TRANSPORTATION IS PROVIDED AS NEEDED TO A CHPA SHELTER OR OTHER SERVICES SUCH AS A HOSPITAL. STREET OUTREACH IS CONDUCTED THROUGHOUT PHILADELPHIA 5 NIGHTS A WEEK. DURING FY21, CHPA SERVED 275 YOUTH THROUGH STREET OUTREACHFOR MANY REASONS, NOT ALL YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ARE READY OR ABLE TO BE HOUSED. OFTEN, THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH BEDS IN THE COMMUNITY TO HOUSE THEM. CHPA'S YORK PROGRAM IS A COMBINATION OF EMERGENCY SHELTER AND DROP-IN CENTER WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN REST DURING THE DAY, SHOWER, EAT A NOURISHING MEAL, DO LAUNDRY, AND ACCESS THE INTERNET. THEY CAN ALSO ACCESS DAY-PROGRAMMING, CASE MANAGEMENT AND REFERRALS TO ADDITIONAL SERVICES. DURING FY21, CHPA SERVED 77 YOUTH IN-DROP SERVICES.