Covenant House Georgia

Shelter and crisis carethe shelter provides emergency services; temporary, immediate housing; nutritious food; clothing; medical care; and mental health services to young people ages 18-24 who are experiencing homelessness or human trafficking. These high-quality programs and services meet youths' immediate needs, stabilize their situation, and help them consider their longer-term goals for education, employment, and career planning. The organization is expertly equipped to respond to the unique needs of young survivors of human trafficking and those who identify as lgbtq+. Shelter doors are always open, 24/7, and we have provided uninterrupted service to children and youth for 24 years.

Outreachthe outreach program actively seeks out young people experiencing homelessness who may need help. In vans and on foot, outreach workers go out to the neighborhoods, riverfronts, parks, and other places, where young people facing homelessness often seek refuge. Teams offer food, water, hygiene kits, clothing, blankets, counseling, and referrals. Through sustained contact, they build trust with the young people, the first step toward encouraging them to come into shelters and connect with services.

Transitional living - rights of passagecovenant House's transitional living programs, often referred to as "rights of passage or rop, are where young people take their boldest steps toward independence. Youth live in rop for up to 24 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. Covenant House staff support each young person on their journey toward sustainable independence and a hope-filled future.time-limited permanent supportive housing - gift of hopethe time-limited permanent supportive housing program, gift of hope, offers affordable-to-youth housing and the opportunity to develop credit and rental histories to young people exiting homelessness. Residents receive ongoing access to case management and the comprehensive support services offered by the organization while also exercising independent living and navigating community services.rapid rehousingas youth are placed into apartments of their own across the community, Covenant House helps youth by covering a portion of their rent, a portion that dwindles as their capacity for independence increases. Community apartments and rapid rehousing programs are emerging as an increasingly important part of the continuum of care.

Support services provides the following: drop-in services (formerly community service center)drop-in services are another form of outreach. Youth in this program are not receiving residential services, but are provided access to nutritious meals, hot showers, hygiene products, laundry services, and new clothing and shoes. Youths, ages 16 to 24, can request and receive medical and mental health services, case management services, transitional and permanent housing assistance, and they may take part in the education and employment program.education and workforce development supportyoung people arrive at Covenant House Georgia with dreams that have been disrupted by homelessness. Only about 21% are enrolled in school at the time of intake. Advancing educationally and preparing for a career are key to a young person's prospects for leaving homelessness behind. Either directly or through partnerships, we guide youth to appropriate educational and work force opportunities, matching each young person's strengths and abilities with their career interests. We help them hone the skills they need to join the workforce, become independent, and turn their back on homelessness and escape trafficking. Human trafficking survivors-of the thousands of young people who find safety and sanctuary at Covenant House, our research indicates that approximately one in five are survivors of human trafficking. Young people experiencing homelessness are vulnerable to traffickers, who prey on their need for love, support, a safe place to sleep, and food to create a trauma bond with them. Covenant House has pioneered intake screening tools to quickly reveal a history of trafficking that young people, otherwise, may find difficult to name. We meet trafficking survivors' immediate needs for nutritious food, clothing, shelter, safety, and medical care. And we recognize their unique needs for extra levels of protection, including safe spaces at all our sites and safe houses at our sites in new york, toronto, tegucigalpa, and guatemala city, as well as for rigorous mental health care to help them sort through their experiences and reclaim their potential. Covenant House advocates at the local, state, and national levels for trafficking survivors, promoting legislation to protect them and their rights and bringing criminal cases against their traffickers whenever possible.health and well-being (formerly medical)homelessness impacts young people's physical and mental well-being in many ways, and because youth are still developing cognitively, physically, psychologically, and emotionally, those impacts can have deep effects. Trauma-informed health and well-being services range from medical care at on-site health centers to yoga classes, art and music therapy, counseling, religious and spiritual services, and physical fitness. In these activities, young people heal from the harm done to them while living unhoused and take control of their lives, build on their strengths, and nourish their self-confidence. Aftercare and permanent housingcovenant House supports young people on their journey from crisis care to independence while cultivating a relationship that bolsters their capacity for independent living and prevents their return to homelessness or trafficking. Our drop-in services for physical and mental health care and educational, workforce development, and legal support remain available to many. We also help youth secure permanent housing by supplementing their rent, a portion that incrementally declines as their capacity for independence increases. Rapid rehousing is emerging as an increasingly important part of our continuum of care.public education and preventionpublic education and prevention uses a variety of platforms to inform and educate the public, government officials, and young people about youth homelessness and human trafficking. Covenant House employs websites, social media, public service announcements, billboards, newsletters, school-based programs, community engagement and training, talks, lectures, and peer-to-peer events to raise awareness of the causes and impacts of youth homelessness and of the signs that a young person might be experiencing homelessness or human trafficking.young families (formerly mother/child program)the young families program provides emergency services, short- and long-term housing, nourishing food, and medical and mental health care to pregnant and parenting youth and their children. The organization also offers young families access to childcare services, parenting support, and a full range of educational, vocational, and job placement services. This holistic plan provides young parents with the support they need to grow into responsible and caring parents, capable of supporting their families financially and emotionally.