Covenant House Pennsylvania (CHPA) is much more than a shelter. The organization provides services for homeless young people, including a first-class clinic, staff to help with going to college and finding a job, and one-to-one support to help young people plan, stay on track, and achieve their goals.
CHPA also provides housing for longer periods to give young people time to find work, learn important skills, and save money – giving them the best possible chance of achieving independence.
The program is for young people in desperate situations age 21 and under. The organization's goal is to help homeless young people become healthy, happy, responsible, productive, and ultimately independent adults.
CHPA is a program of transformative change, an opportunity to move forward, often from lives of trauma and neglect. From the very first moment, CHPA approaches young people with unconditional respect and support. They strive never to turn anyone away.
When youth enter the 76-bed shelter, they are not bombarded. Many young people have arrived after a traumatic experience. CHPA simply responds to their immediate needs. First, youth are asked if they would like something to eat – three meals daily are available every day of the year from the onsite cafeteria – and whether they need to see a doctor or nurse, or if they need clothes or personal hygiene items.
Living on the streets or in unstable housing can negatively affect a young person's health – both in the short and long term. So, within her or his first week with CHPA, a young person receives a full health screening at the onsite clinic – partnered with CHOP and funded by the IBX Foundation and the Green Tree Community Health Foundation. The clinic has a full team of experienced staff that includes a pediatrician, psychiatrist, drug and alcohol counselor, nurse practitioners, and a health educator. Here, youth find the physical, psychological, and emotional support they need to begin to build themselves up.
During the first few days at CHPA, youth go through Orientation. This includes an Orientation presentation, held every Monday in the Cafeteria. CHPA informs residents what they can expect from the organization, and, in turn, what will be expected from them.
Five principles underpin CHPA's work: Immediacy, Sanctuary, Structure, Value Communication, and Choice.
These are defined in a Residents Handbook, which outlines house rules, and which the young person reviews and is then required to sign. Rules include good behavior – showing respect to others – and keeping faith with a Goal Plan (which they develop with the help of a designated advisor). An important thread running through the support and which is clearly stated in the Handbook is “We will help you as long as you are willing to help yourself."
As part of their Goal Plan, youth then complete education and vocation assessments with the support of in-house specialists. After this, youth are expected to complete the CHOICES program – Covenant House Orientation in Career Enhancement Skills. There are four CHOICES sessions: Career Skills Orientation; Job Search Workshop; Resume Workshop; and an Interview Workshop. Then, before interviews, youth select appropriate dress from our Success Boutique. CHPA gives them travel tokens for the bus, and they are on their way to their interview and – we hope – a job.
For those that complete the three-month program, we offer Rights of Passage. Some return to CHPA to try many times. The organization understands that coming from lives lacking in structure the young people may need to become accustomed to following rules and setting goals. They welcome young people as many times as it takes for them to succeed. The Rights of Passage is a 20-bed program run by six staff in Kensington. Here, CHPA offers longer-term housing and support. A youth pays rent, which CHPA returns when they complete the program so they can use it as a downpayment for their own apartment. CHPA teaches them budgeting, life skills, and responsibility, and helps them move on.
These supportive services combine to create one vital thing: a program of positive transformation for homeless young people in our community.
Covenant House PA is a 501(c)(3) and the organization's W-9 can be found HERE.