COVENANT HOUSE 2014 ANNUAL REPORT CROSSING THE BRIDGE FROM DESPAIR TO HOPE… TO BRIDGE FROM DESPAIR CROSSING THE COVENANT HOUSE COVENANT “Covenant House was never a program to me. It was my home... Before coming here I didn’t have the confidence to speak out. But with all the new situations and all the new people I’ve met here, it’s easier now to express myself. I’m no longer afraid to say what I feel. And that feels great.” “My parents got divorced suddenly when I was 12. My mom just didn’t want me anymore... she kicked me out. I ended up on the streets. I felt so lost, until a stranger brought me to Covenant House. Thank God they found me.” “I never had a real home. Never. I ended up alone on the street for three years. Then I had a baby. Thank God, a stranger brought me to Covenant House. The way the staff treated me, the way they listened and respected me, it really threw me off at first. I thought it was fake, you know. It was too good to trust. But then I started to believe people really cared. It took some time, but I started to feel better about myself. And the way people were so patient here with me, that taught me to be more patient with my baby. I’ve made up my mind he’s not going to have the kind of life I have.” “I came to Covenant House after being in NY for about 8 months. I was admitted to the hospital the night before. I was beaten up by a crack dealer. When I walked through your doors I had hit a bottom that was indescribable. You gave me shelter, food, clothes, safety and hope. I still have the robe I wore that first night and also the rosary I made while I was there. Later, after living in a group home and re-hab my parents accepted me back into their home. Since then I have finished high school, and I work as a supervisor. I have also gotten married and bought a house. My life has made a complete turn and CH was the start of making that happen.” “We are the children you wished you never had, the mistake, the problem, the pain.... We cried for milk and you hit us. We held up our tiny arms in hopes of being held, you left us alone, cold, scared and hungry. We cried out for someone, something, anything to love and care for us and not beat us and leave us when we are in pain. We were born into this world to make it a better place, not to have the world turn its back on us. We are special. Covenant House has given me and many other “mistakes, pains and problems” a place to become who we are: Angels of God and people who are of worth, to grow in love and peace.”

Covenant House Mission Statement Mission House Statement Covenant living out His to delity and His dedicated to people are providence God’s who recognize We respect unconditional and serve, with absolute we children and those ourselves among covenant safeguard and protect to and street, the of serve children to us calls suering commitment That love. so among His people, presence Just as Christ in Hisall children. humanity of God’s is the visible sign of God, the presence eects that a visible sign community are our eorts in the covenant together and our kids.working the Holy Spirit among ourselves through DEAR FRIENDS,

From the first moment I walked through the doors of Covenant House that we can do more as a people to help these kids, to bring them to in the fall of 1992, Covenant House was a revelation to me. I had never safety and shape futures of hope and promise. We can and must be the dined with teenagers grappling with despair, until that Thanksgiving visible sign of God’s love in their lives. when I met three boys who had just learned at our health center that they had tested positive for HIV and were singing bits of pop songs that I’m equally committed to the belief that those who hurt our kids—those they wanted played at their funerals. who traffic them, and exploit them, and throw them away—must be stopped. The people who hurt our kids—the pimps and the predators, I had no idea that thousands of vulnerable children were lured by pimps the gang leaders and drug dealers, and the child traffickers—have earned and drug dealers and human traffickers, bought and sold and discarded. I our contempt. just didn’t realize that so many young people were homeless and alone. In this report you’ll read about our programs and the progress we’ve At Covenant House our calling, our mission is to help young people made both on the streets and in the halls of leadership in this country transcend this violence and rejection that has identified their whole lives. on behalf of our kids. You’ll see that Covenant House is a force of love— To transform the lives of young people who have been suffering alone on pure, hope-filled unconditional love. the streets for months, sometimes years. We have much work to do. But we have the programs, the experience, Covenant House is all about encouraging people of goodwill to believe and the commitment of so many good people. I am convinced that what they can make a difference in the lives of homeless kids, helping them we do—from to Anchorage—is the most powerful human on their way to a brighter future. rights movement for children in the world. And it begins and ends with love. I don’t think it’s possible to understand what these kids are going through unless you’ve walked in their shoes. As a father myself, my heart Is our work difficult? Yes, but what I’ve been blessed to learn… and what breaks with the suffering our kids needlessly endure. Their strength is our staff, volunteers, and supporters learn very quickly… is that caring inspirational. Their dignity is absolute. But their desperation grows with for our kids, helping them cross that bridge from despair to hope, is not each night on the streets alone. a burden. It is a gift.

If we don’t respond with love and protection and the promise of a better tomorrow—we will lose them. I’m committed to the unshakeable belief Thank you for loving our kids. Kevin M. Ryan KEVIN M. RYAN President WEwithout beingabusedandhomeless. simple beliefthatallchildren have therighttopassintoadulthood Our RightsofPassage long-termresidentialprogramisbasedonthe RIGHTS OFPASSAGE you.” else toturn, we have apromisethatsays simply, very “We’re herefor a doorthatnever closes,andacommitmenttoany child withnoplace weEverything dotohelpahomelesschild beginswithCrisisCare. With CRISIS CARE homeless kidslostandtrappedonthestreets. provides food andcounseling(andmostimportantly, anescape)to Our staff searches thedarkest andtougheststreetcorners, CAREOUTREACH FROM THESTREETSANDTOHELPTHEMBUILDNEWLIVES. PROGRAMS ARESPECIFICALLY DESIGNEDTORESCUEKIDS MEAL, ABEDTOSLEEPIN…ANDSOMEONEWHOCARES.OUR LATER. THEIRNEEDS CAN’TWAIT: CLEANCLOTHES,ADECENT SCARED TODEATH, YOUDON’TTELLTHAT KIDTOCOMEBACK WHEN AKIDISOUTONTHESTREETAT 2AM,ALONEAND Our ContinuumofCare forgotten. efforts, we strive tobethevoice for thechildren whohave been behalf ofkidsinthe . Through ouradvocacy andresearch Covenant Houseisthemostpowerful humanrightsmovement on ADVOCACY &RESEARCH and thecommitmenttomakingworld abetter place. across thecountry. What they have incommonistheirlove for ourkids Our volunteers comefrommany different backgrounds and fromall SERVICE homeless andorphanedchildren whilefighting for their basic rights. Casa Alianza, oursitesin Latin America, provide homeandhopeto CASA ALIANZA

CRISIS CARE...WE ARE HERE FOR YOU.

You’re 16 and you’re hungry. You’re alone. You have no home to go back to. If you are lucky, friends or relatives might help at first. But they have their own lives. And soon you’re on your own again... On the streets, you get exactly the kind of help you don’t need. You feel yourself spiraling downward. You want to climb out, but you’ve got to find a place to stay that takes money, and getting a job but you don’t have the education or skills for anything decent so how will you eat... and where will you live? CRISIS CARE Robert’s Story

Robert’s parents died 6 months apart. It left him with no place to go.

“I didn’t know what to do. My parents were all the family I had and I didn’t know where to turn.” Robert stayed with friends when he could but, in his own words, “that can only last so long.” He says that soon he was sleeping on the beach or at bus stops.

Robert ended up living on the streets for two months. “I was living anywhere At Covenant House we open our doors to every kid in crisis without and everywhere I could,” he says now. His time on the streets was more than question. We welcome kids with open arms and our well-trained, difficult. compassionate staff. Since so many of our kids come from histories of extreme abuse and neglect, the first contact we make is the most “It’s extremely depressing and disturbing. It uncomfortable knowing that critical. Our counselors help scared kids begin to believe that there is you’ve been wearing the same clothes, that you haven’t showered. You don’t hope to rebuild their lives, starting with a hot meal, clean clothes, a have any food or money and nowhere to turn to. It’s really lonely. It makes shower, and a safe bed. you really think about your life.”

After giving our kids time to rest their heads, eat, and address any Robert began to look into shelters and transitional living programs. He found urgent medical needs they may have, our team of caring professionals that Covenant House California was exactly what he was looking for. “They develops individualized programs for each young person. Some of our had case managers to help you with your life. They had a program to help you services include counseling, medical care, GED, literacy and tutorial find a job. They help you get things in order to prepare for the future. It was services, life skills classes, job readiness training, legal counsel, and exactly what I needed.” pastoral guidance. Now, Robert has participated in the job preparation program and has begun to The street takes its toll on our kids. More than taking away their health look for work. He’s excited about working and is confident that he will find a and dignity, street life takes away their ability to trust themselves or job soon. anyone else. That’s why Covenant House is here, always waiting to help kids make the first step towards a new life away from the streets. “If you want to get your life together, this is the perfect program.” OF PASSAGE

Rights of Passage LEARNING TO FLY…

When I first came to Covenant House, I saw a big picture painted on the wall of a dove resting in a hand. It’s their logo, but it also tells the story of what Covenant House is all about.. As a resident, you are that dove and the program is one big nest. In this nest there are a lot of helpers: the staff, your mentor, the people who send money, the other kids in the program. The nest is

RIGHTS like a family, but it’s also a classroom. You’re always learning something you need to finally make it. And the great thing is—when you go out on a ledge, and even if you fall a few times, there is always someone there to catch you and say, it’s ok, try again. And when you’re ready, when the pieces are in place, there’s encouragement of all kinds to help you take off and really fly. —Gene, from his Rights of Passage Graduation Speech

WHAT MORE CAN WE DO FOR THESE KIDS? That was the simple question that prompted the launch of the Our Kids Come Back Home Covenant House Rights of Passage program. James came back. He is a graduate of the Rights of Passage program, a father and the owner of a successful real estate business. We knew that in addition to providing Crisis Care, homeless kids needed an environment of stability and security…the kind cultivated “When you first go to Covenant House, you go for a reason… through solid, loving relationships. From that base homeless youth because you don’t have anywhere else to go,” he says. “The initial could begin to trust more, relax more, and learn new behaviors and reason you go is not to build a future or navigate a plan. The main values necessary for becoming successful adults. reason is because you can’t live where you were living anymore. That’s when you need Crisis Care. In this way, lives could not only be saved from the streets…but transformed. “Then, when you get to Covenant House, you are exposed to so many different opportunities, like Rights of Passage. Then it’s your Rights of Passage provides 18 to 21 year-olds with the chance they choice on whether you are going to take part in it or not. You have need to make a life for themselves away from the street by providing to have that drive and determination to want something more in life. food, clothing, shelter, and medical care for up to 18 months. You can have a hammer but you gotta swing the hammer to build But Rights of Passage is much more than food, clothing, shelter, and Covenant House was the tool for me to use.” and medical care…We invite volunteers from the corporate world Vivian never really left us. A Covenant House ROP resident in the to be mentors to our kids. We secure jobs from employers who early 90’s, she is now a mentor helping other Covenant House kids. agreed to work with us and our residents. “Coming back and working with the kids is a good feeling,” she We celebrate holidays, we mark job and school successes, and plan says. “I can’t tell anyone what to do, but I can tell them about my group outings in an effort to make the environment as familial as experiences and what I’ve learned. I think the kids feel comfortable possible. And, every step of the way, we tell our kids how sure we with me because of my background, and that I’m not talking ‘at’ are they’re going to make it. them. It’s gratifying knowing the kids appreciate talking and listening Bringing all these pieces together is what makes Rights of Passage to me, and that in some way I may be able to help someone else. a one-of-a-kind program. A program which clearly works. In just a “ROP teaches you to be independent,” says Vivian. “Kids come few months, we see kids who had nothing, kids who had given up, here for different reasons, from running away to being homeless to become kids who work long hours to succeed as full-time students. having no family support. I didn’t get a lot of support growing up, so We see young people who never thought they could do anything that is what I got from Rights of Passage. I learned confidence here, get excited about setting goals and keeping them. We see kids learn to look people in the eye and give my opinion. I learned to get things how to dream all over again… done. I learned how to live.” OUTREACH

Reaching the Kids Who Can’t Reach Us… EVERY NIGHT OUR OUTREACH TEAMS DRIVE OR WALK THROUGH THE CITY STREETS, SEARCHING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN NEED. SOME OF THESE KIDS HAVE BEEN ON THE STREETS FOR MONTHS. SOME EVEN LONGER. MANY HAVE GIVEN UP ON THE IDEA OF ANY KIND OF LIFE AWAY FROM THE STREET.

Our counselors provide these youth with sandwiches, juice, a jacket if it’s cold. years. “If you ask one of these kids if their mother knows they are out on the We listen every night with care and concern, but without judgment. And we street, most likely they will tell you it is their mom that put them on the streets work to convince these young people that their dreams don’t have to die on the in the first place. We reach out to these kids, break bread with them, let them streets… know they are precious in our eyes and in the eyes of God.”

Armed with Covenant House cards, plenty of sandwiches, and the offer of on- Covenant House outreach extends beyond vans. At committee meetings, on the-spot assistance, outreach specialists’ constant and reassuring presences Mayoral councils, at hospitals, YMCA’s, and community group events, we earn them trust among the youth on the streets, and the chance to talk about educate anyone who might encounter a teen in need. Covenant House. Prevention factors into Covenant House’s outreach efforts as well. Residents and By heading to where the kids are, day or night, we let them know that they have staff from Covenant House visit schools to connect young people to services other options—our day services, our shelters, our safe haven. They can see that they or their friends might need, and to raise awareness about . they have options beyond the dangers of the street. Often, Covenant House residents tell their personal stories to the students.

A child who spends more than 24 hours living on the streets has an 80% greater “We can change the world by doing one thing... caring for each other.” says chance of being bought and sold by criminals on the street. We have to get to Michael Blockson, Outreach Specialist at Covenant House , as he drives these kids before they do. It’s that simple. the nighttime streets in search of kids in need.

“All the kids on the street are products of ruptured families,” says Father Steve Last year, Covenant House changed the world by changing over 25,000 kids Siniari, who has been rescuing kids off the streets of New Jersey for over 20 through our outreach efforts. Quincy’s Story

The early years of Quincy’s life were filled with emotional and physical abuse. There were times he was taped to a table and beaten by his father. Other times he was locked in a dark, boarded up bedroom for days on end.

By the age of twelve, Quincy left his parent’s abusive home for good.

“ I stayed in baseball dugouts, abandoned houses, warehouses, boxes sometimes. I remember staying under a bridge.”

Having no family to turn to, Quincy left his home state of Mississippi and caught a bus to Washington, D.C. There his address was an abandoned car.

By this time Quincy had not been to school for a few years. He decided to catch up, and began attending a regular high school by day. At night he attended classes with adults striving to attain their GED. In the midst of being homeless, “Outreach is an important side of me. showering at a local and doing part-time work at a Boys and Girls Club, Quincy graduated high school.

I can see sharing my story makes a He set his sights on California, but his bus ride was cut short when he ran out of money. At the age of 20 he was living under a bridge in Houston when he met Mike Blockson and Melsimon Davis of the Covenant House Texas Outreach difference with kids on the street. I’m program. living proof they can get off the street, “I’ll never forget the date, January 1, 2002. It was a new year…a new beginning.” Quincy is now thriving and has left street life behind, but he feels a calling to tell that they can survive and move on.” his story of survival to other homeless youth.

“Outreach is an important side of me,” he says. “I can see sharing my story —says Quincy makes a difference with kids on the street. I’m living proof they can get off the street, that they can survive and move on.” “I AMHERE.HEREIAM.” “At the end of the day, half the battle for our young adults is simply finding someone who is available available is someone who our battle finding young for simply the adultsis day, half “At endofthe the the resourcestomove placeinlife. toamorestable They make a their struggles, tocelebratetheirjoys, tohelpconnectthemwith together dailyincommunalprayer andreflection. youth and thewillingnesstolive togetherinanintentionalcommunity. Our Faithmemberslive Community togetherinsmallcommunities, Faith Community/volunteers Many of ourFaithmemberscomestraightoutofcollege, Community Community. They aremenandwomen whogive ayear oftheir For over 40years, aspecialgroupofcommitted peoplehave been spiritual beliefs,butwhattheyhomeless share isapassionfor serving wheretheneedisgreatest,toputvaluescommitment toserve of serving ouryouth; theyserving arethemembersofCovenant HouseFaith sharing in household tasks, supportingoneanother,sharing inhouseholdtasks, andspendingtime of joy and encouragement. life tobepresentwithouryouth, tolearntheirstories,witness and instead of moving into the paying world, they take a year to give absolute respectandunconditionallove intoaction,andtobeasource OUR MEMBERS HAVINGback. They cometousfrommany different backgrounds, locations,and FAITH enough and trustworthy enough to share their frustrations with. It is comforting and empowering to to andempowering It frustrations share with. comforting is their to enough andtrustworthy enough know that I can offer this beautiful andmuchneeded this Ican that offer gift.” know “Did you know Iwas partofthefirstOutreach team?”says Sandra,one “How wonderful doesitfeel tohearaformerly homeless,formerly to run intoNew York policeofficers, City they were shocked I went What every Faith Community volunteerWhat everyFaith willtellyou, Community withoutfail, isthat fellow volunteer toprotectme.But,thosewere thestreetswhere friend tokidswhenthey neededonethemost. were nice,” says Sandra. “You listenedtome. You triedtohelp. And my where they couldfindCovenant Houseifthey neededit.” Covenant House,whetherthey were doingoutreach, our kids serving Faith volunteersof Community arepartofthefabric ofthehistory kids were at,sowe went bringingfood andblankets andtellingthem hopeless youth tellyou: “You were nicetomewhennotmany people community, was thebestdecisionthey ever made. spending a year at Covenant House, working with our kids, living in of ourfirst Faith Community volunteers. “It was back inthe70’s and into thosekindsofneighborhoods—thatlateatnight—with only my myself andanother volunteer would ridearoundsomeoftheworst life changed for thebetter. Thanks you.” ONE PERPECTIVE during agovernmental coupinCentral America, orsimplybeinga parts ofNew York. We didn’t know itwas thatdangerous.But,we used —Shanay, Faith Community Member,—Shanay, Faith Community

OUR COVENANT IN ACTION Our Covenant in Action COVENANT HOUSE IS A POWERFUL HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENT FOR HOMELESS YOUTH IN 27 CITIES ACROSS SIX COUNTRIES. WITH OVER 43 YEARS OF BEING A BEACON OF HOPE FOR HOMELESS YOUTH, WE HAVE THE EXPERTISE, AUTHORITY, AND OBLIGATION TO WORK TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES AND TO PREVENT THE EXPLOITATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE. OUR MISSION TRANSCENDS BORDERS. LINES ON A MAP DON’T LIMIT OUR PROMISE TO PROTECT, SAFEGUARD, AND ADVOCATE FOR ALL CHILDREN.

A Voice For Those Who Have None trafficking or had engaged in survival sex at some point in their lives. • Forty-eight percent reported they sold themselves for a safe place to sleep, underlining In February 2015 our Director of Anti-Human Trafficking Initiatives at Covenant the need for shelter for the city’s and nation’s homeless young people. House New York Jayne Bigelsen testified on behalf of Covenant House/Casa Alianza/La Alianza before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The • Almost 15 percent of youth in the study reported experiencing some form of trafficking invitation grew from the groundbreaking study Jayne and Fordham University victimization consistent with the definition under federal law prior to coming to undertook documenting our kids’ experiences of being exploited and trafficked—a Covenant House. study which showed that almost a quarter of homeless young people—and • Of these 15 percent, over a third experienced compelled sex trafficking which nearly one-third of young females—interviewed in the study were either victims frequently included an array of physical abuse, threats, gang rape and four cases of of trafficking or had engaged in survival sex at some point in their lives. (See kidnapping. Several described repeated and unsuccessful attempts at escape. sidebar.) • Domestic traffickers fell into three main categories: parents and other immediate “We need to do our best to take away the pimps’ ability to force our children to family; boyfriends; and strangers. choose between selling their bodies and having a place to sleep,” Jayne testified. “To do that, we need to work toward the goal of ensuring that every homeless young person has access to safe beds and services. Different City, Different Kids … Same Tragic Findings This year as a follow-up to the Fordham study, Covenant House New Orleans completed “An important first step toward that goal is passing the Runaway and Homeless a joint study with Loyola’s Modern Slavery Research Project, led by Dr. Laura Murphy. Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act. I join with many other advocates for The study revealed shockingly similar results to the Fordham Study: trafficked youth in supporting this act. Clearly, combating youth homelessness is tantamount to preventing human trafficking. We will never win this war against • Once again, almost a quarter of homeless young people interviewed were either human trafficking within our borders unless we first win the war to end youth victims of trafficking or sexual labor before finding help at Covenant House. homelessness.” • 14 percent had been victims of human trafficking

OUR TRAFFICKING STUDIES • 25 percent had been involved in sexual labor (trafficked for sex or worked as commercial sex workers.) The first-ever trafficking study of youth at Covenant House conducted with Fordham University offered a stark portrait of homeless young people being forced into Based on the number of youth that Covenant House New Orleans cares for in one year prostitution to survive. (over 615), the findings indicate approximately 86 residents a year are victims of human trafficking and 154 residents will have engaged in some form of sexual labor. • Almost a quarter of homeless young people interviewed were either victims of OUR COVENANT IN ACTION

New York, NY Orlando, Florida City, Guatemala , Michigan , Vancouver, Canada Houston, Texas Managua, New Orleans, Louisiana St. Louis, Missouri Fort Lauderdale, Florida Oakland, California , , Pennsylvania Anchorage, Alaska , Georgia , California Montclair, New Jersey City, Mexico Jersey City, New Jersey Newark, New Jersey Camden, New Jersey Atlantic City, New Jersey Asbury Park, New Jersey Elizabeth, New Jersey Grand Rapids, Michigan Washington, D.C. The Sleepout Movement A MOVEMENT IS UNDERWAY... THOUSANDS OF COURAGEOUS SUPPORTERS HAVE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS FOR ONE NIGHT, SLEEPING ON THE STREETS IN FRONT OF COVENANT HOUSE SHELTERS ACROSS THE U.S., CANADA AND LATIN AMERICA TO RAISE FUNDS AND AWARENESS FOR OUR KIDS. INDIVIDUALS AND TEAMS HAVE SPENT MORE THAN 3,500 NIGHTS ON THE STREET IN 15 CITIES SINCE 2011. COLLECTIVELY THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE RAISED OVER $15 MILLION DOLLARS FOR COVENANT HOUSE!

OUR COVENANT IN ACTION

A SACRED SPACE…

A Sacred Space… Our Praesidium Accreditation

It is not easy for a young person to make the decision to come through the doors at Covenant House. Many of our kids have been abused, neglected or abandoned by the very people who should have loved and cherished them most. That is why we consider Covenant House a sacred space, a place where we meet our kids and begin the process of building their trust.

As part of our ongoing effort to provide the best care for our kids, Praesidium Inc, a leader in abuse risk management, recently conducted a thorough assessment of Covenant House programs. The result was Covenant House being awarded the prestigious Praesidium Accreditation.

“This award demonstrates that Covenant House has worked to achieve the highest industry standards in abuse prevention,” the independent report concluded. “This shows the commitment from Covenant House for stringent safety practices in all areas of care for homeless youth. To attain accreditation, Covenant House programs underwent a rigorous review of operational areas including the policies, training, monitoring and supervision in place to protect the homeless youth in our care for homeless youth.”

We are proud of our Praesidium Accreditation, part of our ongoing commitment to proactively protect our young people from sexual abuse. Too many of the young peo- ple who come to Covenant House have been abused in broken homes and suffered further abuse when they escaped to the streets. Homeless kids come to Covenant House for sanctuary and hope. We are called to make sure every staff member and volunteer is screened, given the proper training, and prepared to provide the best care possible. Our kids deserve nothing less than the best we can offer. OUR COVENANT IN ACTION

STRONG FOCUS ON OUTCOMES PROGRAM FACTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2014 Covenant House is a mission energized by the powerful lives and stories of the youth we serve. This year we will help over 57,000 young people with food, clothing, shelter, medical care, counseling, love and hope. 1,920 Every time we hand a hungry child a sandwich; each time we care for a sick child in On average 1,920 youth were sheltered at Covenant House one of our medical clinics; with every hug we give a forgotten child, we know we every night of the year. make an impact.

But what happens to our young people when they leave us? Are we sharing best 700,691 practices as we help young people in 27 cities across six countries? Do our outreach A total of 700,691 nights of shelter were provided. staff saving lives in Nicaragua use methods that could help our team in Camden, NJ?

To better tell our story and to ensure best practices are being shared throughout 32,192 our Covenant House family, we have implemented a series of ambitious, data-driv- Our residential and community service center programs en strategies that are helping us learn more about the kids we serve and improve cared for 32,192 youth. our services. These efforts ensure that all our Covenant House programs strive for a common set of mission-driven outcomes and help homeless youth achieve 25,172 real, meaningful results. The data collected will help us develop and deploy a Our outreach teams provided life-saving help on the streets common set of mission-driven outcome measures to ensure that all our Covenant to 25,172 youth. House programs are helping homeless youth achieve real, meaningful results. VICTORIES!!! 57,364 We served a total of 57,364 youth in FY 14. • In Pennsylvania, with the help of Covenant House Pennsylvania’s leadership and testimony, the Senate passed Bill 75, which makes penalties against child traffickers stricter, provides services and support for victims, and creates a statewide task force.

• Covenant House New York worked successfully for the passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act.

• Casa Alianza has been active in drafting model anti-trafficking legislation in Nicaragua, working to create a Special Prosecutor’s Office on trafficking in Guatemala, and presenting a proposal for violence prevention to the Secretary of State in Honduras. ALUMNI SUCCESS STORIES MEET KACY, LENWOOD, TRACY & VICTOR, THEIR LIVES COULD HAVE TAKEN A MUCH DIFFERENT PATH. BUT YOU GAVE THEM A FRESH START…

Kacy’s Story

You can’t always judge a book by its cover. As cliché as that might sound, it’s often the truth. You would never guess the horror that I’ve endured by looking at the man that I’ve become. But if you look past the suit and freshly polished shoes, beyond the worldly possessions you might be surprised with what you find.

Life wasn’t always so good. Saying that my family had problems would be a bit of an understatement. My parents had six children, three of whom were removed from their custody prior to my birth for abuse and neglect. Life was a constant struggle. Poverty, substance abuse, extreme violence and criminal activity cast a dark shadow over my family. Our meals often came from dumpsters.

Our dire economic situation contributed to my parents making some really poor decisions. We lived in constant fear of police raids and my parents were incarcerated numerous times. It wasn’t unusual for the police to be dispatched to our home multiple times in a week. Sadly the children in my family were bounced around from group homes, foster care and other institutional living situations.

Following in my parents footsteps, I began abusing alcohol and drugs on a daily basis when I was 12 years old. While they initially provided me with the escape that I needed, that didn’t last long. I soon found myself hanging out with the most unsavory of characters and doing horrendous things to support my drug habit.

My drug use became the straw that broke the camel’s back. At the age of 15 the escalating tension in our house led my mother to stab me multiple times. Fearful that I would eventually be killed, I hit the streets.

Fortunately most people will never have to deal with going hungry, they’ll never have to sleep in an abandoned building, steal food to eat, watch men die in the streets or commit unspeakable acts in order to survive. I wasn’t so lucky, or at least not until a cold winter day in 1993 when I experienced what I like to call my Kacy, Alumni Miracle on 41st street. Then everything changed. ALUMNI SUCCESS STORIES

Lenwood’s Story

I was panhandling at Tompkins Square Park one day when I bumped into a guy who I Hello, I want to thank you for all you have done for me and millions of youth just at had often seen on the streets. I almost didn’t recognize him at first. Covenant House. My name is Lenwood Brown and I am a former resident of Covenant House. I came to Covenant House years ago looking for help and a place to stay. He was clean shaven, seemed to fill out his clothes a bit more and generally looked pretty happy. I recall asking him if he hit the lottery or something. He told me about a One day I really needed someone to talk to. I came home from school one day and place called Covenant House and suggested that I check it out. my mother had my clothes in a garbage bag. I knocked on the door she asked who is it and I responded “your son” and she told me I don’t have a son. I am my mother’s I had heard about shelters before. They were cramped, disease filled places where only child. I took my bags and I went to the pay phone and called Covenant House guys who were too sick to make it on the streets went. Based on a handful of visits to and I told them what I was going through and that I did not have a place to go. The a couple of them, these characterizations generally proved to be true. While initially counselor told me Covenant House has a youth shelter and someone will come pick reluctant, I eventually heeded his advice. What I found there changed my life forever. me up. They gave me a warm and safe place to stay where I didn’t have to worry about freezing to death, being robbed or worse. They provided me with nutritious food. I was a high school dropout and homeless. Now, because of people like you partnering Most importantly, they gave me hope. For the first time in my life I was exposed to with Covenant House, I am a graduate of Rutgers University. My mother was even people who genuinely seemed to care about my well-being that had no secret agenda. inspired by my outcome. She went to rehab and is now in college. They convinced me that I had potential and their kindness encouraged me to break down some of the walls that prevented me from having meaningful relationships with Covenant House changed my life. Now I have a future and I did not see that before I other people. They assisted me with setting goals and provided me with the tools came to Covenant House. Covenant House is my family because they raised me and necessary to achieve them. when I finally make it, I want to help Covenant House just like you helped me.

I learned that my experiences on the streets were one of my greatest assets and that the drive that kept me alive on a daily basis, if channeled properly could be used to excel in life. That’s exactly what I did. Covenant House didn’t just help me put together the broken pieces of my life, I was reborn.

The angry boy who walked through the Covenant House doors on that cold winter day in 1993 emerged as a man capable of dealing with anything the world might throw at him. A man who eventually went on to become a successful business person, entrepreneur, Kacy Knight, Alumni caregiver, volunteer, and overall productive member of society. Thank you Covenant House! Tracy’s Story

She is a happily married mother of three; has a great job at Morgan Stanley Smith is especially unique. Covenant House not only introduced her to the world of work— Barney; is a licensed real estate broker who currently owns and rents four properties we introduced her to her husband! with her husband; and an active member on the Board of Directors of Covenant House. “On the same night Covenant House took me in, they took in Pharoah as well,” she says, laughing fondly at the memory. “So not only did Covenant House help me with When she came to Covenant House back in 1990, Tracy Jones-Walker had big dreams. so many other things…they helped me find my husband, too!” “And thanks mostly to Covenant House, almost all of them have come true,” she says. Tracy and Pharoah have been happily married for over 20 years. In addition to Tamara, Arriving from Guyana with her mom and siblings, the family was having a tough time Tracy and Pharoah have two other daughters, Ashanty and Phyia. making it financially, with the whole family cramped in a one-bedroom apartment. One of her teachers saw Tracy struggling and told her about Covenant House. Tracy decided to give back not only by volunteering her time on the Covenant House Board, but also as a mentor to young women in our Rights of Passage Program. “It “I was in the Crisis Shelter for three weeks, then I moved into the Mother/Child is a great opportunity to show young women at Covenant House that no matter how program with my daughter Tamara,” she recalls. “It was such a relief that Covenant tough things have been in the past, they can have good, happy lives,” says Tracy. “I tell House had a program that could care for my child while I went to work and school. them my story and it gives them confidence that with hard work, anything is possible.”

“From there I moved into the Rights of Passage program,” she says. “I lived at At Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, and with her and Pharaoh managing their real estate Covenant House and took advantage of every program they had to offer. I took in- ventures, life is busy, but good. “I feel great about giving back what I can to Covenant house classes to learn general office skills like typing. They helped me prepare for House because I saw firsthand what a great program it is,” she says. “I’ve seen the job interviews and I got training in preparing a resume and how to look for jobs. And way it changes lives. If my story helps more kids to become determined to make it, I because they had good relationships with businesses, they got me interviews I never want to do as much as I can to make that happen. could have hoped to get on my own. That is how I got my first job in the financial world, at Bear Stearns.” “Covenant House helped me build my morale, my confidence. When you are at the bottom, you have to strive to move up. Covenant House was a vehicle, a resource As she benefitted from the services at Covenant House, Tracy always hoped that that definitely played a major role in our lives. some day she could come back and help. “Back then, and still today, there is a shocking lack of services for older teenagers to go for help,” says Tracy. “This lack of “Now when I work with kids at Covenant House, they hear my story and they tell services means so many kids get caught in a cycle of poverty and can’t escape. A me, I want to be just like you, Miss Tracy. And I tell them no…I want you to be better place like Covenant House is exactly what I needed, and what so many of our kids than me. When we give our kids love and support, there is no stopping them. I know need today, to get the kind of help that changes your life forever.” because I’ve been seeing it happen in my own life and through my volunteer and board efforts for 20 years.” For 43 years, Covenant House has helped over one million kids get off the streets, find jobs, and build new lives. Each one of our kids is unique and special. Tracy’s case “It is a great opportunity to show young women at Covenant House that no matter how tough things have been in the past, they can have good, happy lives,” says Tracy.

Victor’s Story

Former Covenant House resident Victor Lopez shares his personal story about how Covenant House provided him with the love and support he needed to move forward with his life.

As I was walking down Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard recently I remembered my own battles with homelessness and hopelessness in the city I was now visiting as a sustainable adult with a supportive family.

Some 15 years ago I was a “cov kid,” which is what they call the homeless throwaway youths who live in the Covenant House. Like many others, I didn’t have the resources and support I now have as an adult headed to law school. No, at that time I was the poster child for at-risk youth, that’s for sure. My biological family forgot that I existed and let me live in foster care. So it was that my journey through 40 foster homes and three group homes would begin.

Eventually I was adopted for a few short years and then my new parents died in an accident. Following my parents’ death I refused to go into a group home to live out the rest of my teenage years, and I decided to chance life on the streets. I ran as far south as I could without a penny more in my pocket than the money I’d saved mowing lawns in my neighborhood, enough to buy a Greyhound ticket.

A passerby noticed what must have been apparent misery on my gaunt face and after hearing my plight he suggested the Covenant House of Florida. I took his advice and called Covenant House, and thereafter I was taken to their beach side oasis.

From day one the Covenant House gave me access to medical care, transportation assistance to find work, clothing to both live and work in, and the ability to reunify with family where possible or work towards independent living and a constructive life. The place was better than most foster homes I’d lived in.

Tracy, Alumni The settings offered staff who were eager to care and love, and who treated the residents with the respect we deserved as humans.

COVENANT HOUSE AND AFFILIATES ConsolidatedCOVENANT StatementHOUSE AND of Activities AFFILIATES COVENANTConsolidated StatementHOUSE AND of Activities AFFILIATES ForConsolidated the year ended Statement June 30, 2014 of Activities ConsolidatedFor the year ended Statement June 30, 2014 of Activities For the year ended June 30, 2014

Total Total CONTRIBUTIONS AND OTHER REVENUE CONTRIBUTIONS AND OTHER REVENUE Total Contributions: CONTRIBUTIONSContributions: AND OTHER REVENUE Contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations, …. Contributions:Contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations, …. $ 99,013,370 including legacies and bequests of $10,755,621 $ 99,013,370 including legacies and bequests of $10,755,621 $ 99,013,370 ContributedContributionsincluding legaciesservices from individuals, andand bequestsmerchandise foundations of $10,755,621 and corporations, …. 3,066,359 Contributed services and merchandise 3,066,359 ContributedGovernmentincluding legaciesservices grants and andand contracts bequestsmerchandise of $10,755,621 $ 99,013,370 27,934,405 3,066,359 Government grants and contracts 27,934,405 ContributedGovernment services grants and and contracts merchandise 27,934,405 3,066,359 Special events revenue $ 13,967,149 Special events revenue $ 13,967,149 27,934,405 GovernmentSpecialLess cost events of directgrants revenue benefitsand contracts to donors $ 13,967,149(2,445,506) Less cost of direct benefits to donors (2,445,506) SpecialNetLess special cost events of events direct revenue incomebenefits to donors $ 13,967,149(2,445,506) 11,521,643 Net special events income 11,521,643 NetLess special cost of events direct incomebenefits to donors (2,445,506) 11,521,643 Total contributions 141,535,777 Net specialTotal events contributions income 141,535,777 11,521,643 Total contributions 141,535,777 COVENANT HOUSE Other revenue: Other revenue:Total contributions 141,535,777 OtherInvestment revenue: income gain: AND AFFILIATES Investment income gain: Other Investment Interestrevenue: andincome dividends, gain: net 1,247,191 Interest and dividends, net 1,247,191 Investment Interest andincome dividends, gain: net 1,247,1912,849,180 Net unrealized gain 2,849,180 Net unrealized gain 1,247,1912,849,180 InterestNet unrealizedrealized and dividends,gain gain net 1,454,395 Net realized gain 1,454,395 Consolidated School Net managementunrealizedrealized gain gain fees 2,849,1801,454,3958,401,625 School management fees 8,401,625 School Net managementrealized gain fees 1,454,3958,401,625 288,327 Change in fair value of beneficial interests in trusts 288,327 Change in fair value of beneficial interests in trusts 8,401,625 288,327 Statement of SchoolChange management in valuefair value of annuities offees beneficial payable interests in trusts 241,192 Change in value of annuities payable 241,192 OtherChange income in fairvalue value of annuities of beneficial payable interests in trusts 2,435,177 288,327241,192 Other income 2,435,177 ChangeOther income in value of annuities payable 2,435,177 241,192 Activities Total other revenue 16,917,087 Other incomeTotal other revenue 16,917,087 2,435,177 Total other revenue 16,917,087 Total contributions and other revenue 158,452,864 Total othercontributions revenue and other revenue 158,452,864 16,917,087 For the year ended Total contributions and other revenue 158,452,864 EXPENSESTotal contributions and other revenue 158,452,864 June 30, 2014 EXPENSES EXPENSESProgram Services Program Services EXPENSESProgram Shelter Services and Crisis Care $ 47,107,929 Shelter and Crisis Care $ 47,107,929 Program ShelterOutreach Services and Crisis Care $ 47,107,929 4,485,299 Outreach 4,485,299 OutreachMother/ChildShelter and Crisis Care $ 47,107,929 4,485,299 5,508,721 Mother/Child 5,508,721 Mother/ChildMedicalOutreach 5,508,721 5,619,0324,485,299 Medical 5,619,032 MedicalCommunityMother/Child Service Center 10,815,365 5,619,032 5,508,721 Community Service Center 10,815,365 CommunityPublicMedical Education Service Center 10,815,36512,387,140 5,619,032 Public Education 12,387,140 PublicRightsCommunity Educationof Passage Service Center 12,387,14021,571,86210,815,365 Rights of Passage 21,571,862 RightsSchoolsPublic Educationof Passage 21,571,86212,387,140 7,275,666 Schools 7,275,666 SchoolsRights Total of PassageProgram services 21,571,862 7,275,666 114,771,014 Total Program services 114,771,014 Schools Total Program services 7,275,666 114,771,014 Total Program services 114,771,014 Management and general 20,297,906 Management and general 20,297,906 ManagementFundraising and general 20,297,90622,332,907 Fundraising 22,332,907 FundraisingManagement and general 22,332,90720,297,906 Total expenses 157,401,827 FundraisingTotal expenses 157,401,827 22,332,907 Total expenses 157,401,827 Foreign currency translation adjustment 470,184 Foreign currencyTotal expenses translation adjustment 157,401,827 470,184 Foreign currency translation adjustment 470,184 Total expenses and translation adjustment 157,872,011 Foreign currencyTotal expenses translation and adjustment translation adjustment 157,872,011 470,184 Total expenses and translation adjustment 157,872,011 Changes in net assets before pension related activity other than Changes in netTotal assets expenses before and pension translation related adjustment activity other than 157,872,011 Changes in net assets before pension related activity other than net periodic pension cost and expected loss on disposal of property held for sale 580,853 netChanges periodic in netpension assets cost before and pensionexpected related loss on activity disposal other of property than held for sale 580,853 Pension related activity, other than net periodic pension cost (925,825) Pensionnet periodic related pension activity, cost other and expected than net periodicloss on disposal pension ofcost property held for sale (925,825) 580,853 PensionExpected related loss on activity, disposal other of property than net held periodic for sale pension cost (1,146,924) (925,825) PensionExpected related loss on activity, disposal other of property than net held periodic for sale pension cost (1,146,924) (925,825) Expected loss on disposal of property held for sale (1,146,924) Changes in net assets (1,491,896) Changes in net assets (1,491,896) Net assets, beginning of year 190,257,191 Net assets, beginningChanges ofin yearnet assets 190,257,191 (1,491,896) Net assets, beginning of year 190,257,191 Net assets, end of year $ 188,765,295 Net assets, endbeginning of year of year $ 188,765,295190,257,191 Net assets, end of year $ 188,765,295 Net assets, end of year $ 188,765,295 Covenant House Locations

COVENANT HOUSE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT HOUSE MICHIGAN Camden COVENANT HOUSE WASHINGTON D.C. HEADQUARTERS Detroit 2113 Federal Street 2001 Mississippi Ave SE 5 Penn Plaza 2959 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Camden, NJ 08105 Washington, DC 20020 New York, NY 10001 Detroit, MI 48208 Casa Alianza Jersey City COVENANT HOUSE ALASKA Grand Rapids 797 Westside Avenue GUATEMALA 755 A Street 50 Antoine SW Jersey City, NJ 07305 Asociación La Alianza (ALA) Anchorage, Alaska 99501 Grand Rapids, MI 49507 13 Avenida 0-37 Zona 2 de Mixco COVENANT HOUSE NEW ORLEANS Colonia La Escuadrilla COVENANT HOUSE CALIFORNIA COVENANT HOUSE MISSOURI 611 North Rampart Street Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala. Los Angeles 2727 North Kingshighway Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70112 1325 N. Western Avenue St. Louis, MO 63113 MEXICO Hollywood, CA 90027 COVENANT HOUSE NEW YORK Fundación Casa Alianza México, I.A.P. COVENANT HOUSE NEW JERSEY 460 West 41st Street Plaza de las Fuentes 116 Oakland Newark New York, NY 10036 Col. Jardines del Sur 200 Harrison Street 330 Washington Street C.P. 16050 Oakland, CA 94607 Newark, NJ 07102 COVENANT HOUSE PENNSYLVANIA Del. Xochimilco 31 E Armat Street Mexico D.F. COVENANT HOUSE FLORIDA Atlantic City Philadelphia, PA 19144 Fort Lauderdale 929 Atlantic Avenue NICARAGUA 733 Breakers Avenue Atlantic City, NJ 08401 COVENANT HOUSE TEXAS Edificio Conrad N. Hilton Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 1111 Lovett Blvd. Del Estadio Nacional 3c. al Norte y 1c. al Este Montclair Houston, TX 77006 Costado Este del Ministerio del Trabajo Orlando Nancy’s Place Managua, Nicaragua 5931 E. Colonial Drive 32 South Willow Street COVENANT HOUSE TORONTO Orlando, FL 32801 Montclair, NJ 07042 20 Gerrard St. E., HONDURAS Covenant House Georgia Toronto, ON M5B 2P3 Calle Morelos, Avenida Cervantes, Frente 1559 Johnson Rd. NW Elizabeth Optica Matamoros Atlanta, GA 30318 Raphael’s Life House COVENANT HOUSE VANCOUVER Tegucigalpa, M.D.C. 231 Court Street 575 Drake Street Honduras 2401 Vancouver, BC COVENANT HOUSE GEORGIA Elizabeth, NJ 07206 V6B 4K8 1559 Johnson Rd. NW Asbury Park Atlanta, GA 30318 214 Dewitt Avenue Asbury Park, NJ 07712 Covenant House International Board of Directors

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jeffrey S. Calhoun Tracy S. Jones-Walker John W. Slattery Broadway Director Senior Analyst Managing Director Andrew P. Bustillo Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC Morgan Stanley Board Chair Brian M. Cashman President & CEO Senior Vice President, General Manager Drew A. Katz Brother Raymond Sobocinski BMS Intermediaries Inc. NY Yankees CEO OFM Conventuals Interstate Outdoor Advertising Lauren Aguiar Paul A. Danforth Robert R. Striano Partner CAA Sports Janet M. Keating Management Consultant Skadden, Arps Darius V. DeHaas Audra A. McDonald Strauss Zelnick Philip J. Andryc Actor Actor Chairman Portfolio Manager Zelnick Media, Take Two Interactive Software, Berens Capital Management David A. Eklund Tom McGee ITN Networks & Columbia Music Entertainment Founder / Chair Vice Chairman James M. Burns Aeolus Re Deloitte, LLP Partner Genova Burns Mark J. Hennessy Anne M. Milgram Giantomasi Webster LLC Vice President, Global Strategy & Vice President, Criminal Justice Sales Transformation IBM Laura and John Arnold Foundation Barbara P. Bush Founder Paul J. Ingrassia James T. O’Connor Global Health Corps Managing Director/Group Head President, Employee Benefits Real Estate, Citi CBIZ John F. Byren Senior Vice President Capathia Y. Jenkins L. Edward Shaw, Jr., Esq. The BMV Group Actor Merrill Lynch

JOIN US. CALL 800.388.3888 5 PENN PLAZA, NEW YORK, NY 10001 WWW.COVENANTHOUSE.ORG