Beyond Shelter

Beyond Shelter

Housing Programs and Supportive Services at Covenant House PA

Housing Programs

As the largest provider for youth experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia and the only one exclusively supporting youth aged 18-24, we operate three facilities in Germantown, Kensington and York County.

Young people arrive at CHPA with dreams that have been disrupted by systemic injustices. Our doors are open 24/7 to all young people who need shelter, food, medical and mental healthcare, crisis intervention, educational and vocational support, and an array of supportive services – regardless of their race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression, in order to provide them with the best chances for success in independence. Since 1999, our free, trauma-informed and youth-centric continuum of care has served over 30,000 young people.

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nights of housing provided
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youth served in residential programs
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youth served through street outreach
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total visits to medical clinic
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youth served in on-site job readiness
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mental health sessions

Where We Serve

Safe Haven
31 East Armat Street
Philadelphia, PA 19144
Phone: (215) 951-5411
Fax: (215) 951-5412

This 48-bed facility provides 24/7 emergency shelter and crisis care for over 300 youth a year. The moment they step in, our expert team moves into action to mitigate the crisis – providing food, shelter, and basic needs. This includes warm nutritious meals, a hot shower, clean clothing, hygiene supplies, and safe and comfortable bedding. Once our youth have rested and stabilized, they are then connected to other services in our continuum of care.

Our onsite clinic, in partnership with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, offers both medical and mental health services, ensuring each youth’s health is stabilized before creating long-term treatment plans.

Through personalized educational and vocational assessments, youth are guided towards paths that may include high school completion, GED attainment, higher-education pathways or vocational training.

Youth have a support structure of staff including youth advisors and case managers who give youth ownership of their goal plans, but guide them to achieve milestones, improve their economic stability, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve their social-emotional skills, self-esteem and confidence.

Rights of Passage, Transitional Housing

Phone: 215-951-5411
Fax: 215-951-5412

This 20-bed, 18-month program comprises 10 two-bedroom apartment units that residents share. Residents have private bedrooms and share a kitchen, bathroom, and living room. Each resident also has an additional storage closet in the main living space. The youth are a part of two different programs – some move there from Safe Haven while others can come directly from other living situations.

The building also contains a common lounge space for TV, playing games, and sharing community meals. There is a computer lab where youth complete their school work and search for a job. There is a basketball half court, outdoor courtyard, and community garden behind the building where residents can grow fresh food. The staff offices are on-site to provide case management and supervision.

In addition to these 20 beds, Covenant House Pennsylvania can now serve an additional 24 youth through our new Rapid Rehousing program. This program helps to remove the barriers to stable housing. We help the youth secure their own lease and establish rental history while helping with move-in costs and providing them case management. We also work with the youth to ensure that they can maintain the lease financially at the end of the first year.

Sanctuary Program
307 East King Street
York, PA 17403
Phone: (717) 430-8573
Fax: (717) 430-8574

Our Sanctuary Program in York serves the at-risk youth of the region with vital services that include: basic needs (shelter, food, clothing, and showers), educational and vocational services, outreach, and case management.

Staff can refer youth to additional local resources such as physical and mental health services, drug and alcohol counseling, and legal services. The program includes 10 shelter beds for youth 21 and under. The Drop-In Center and Outreach team are available Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 8 PM.

Supportive Services

Street Outreach

In vans and on foot, Covenant House outreach workers go out to the neighborhoods, riverfronts, parks, and other places where youth facing homelessness often seek refuge. They offer food and counseling and invite them to come to Covenant House, where their immediate, basic needs can be met. Through sustained contact, our outreach workers build trust with the young people, the first step toward encouraging them to come into our shelters and connect to our services.

Medical & Mental Health

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. This is even more the case for young people of color and those who identify as LGBTQ, who face unique challenges associated with racism and prejudice. Covenant House welcomes all young people facing homelessness with unconditional love and absolute respect and provides them access to a range of health and well-being services that they can use to heal and rediscover their potential. Our trauma-informed, resilience-focused programs and services range from medical care at our on-site health centers to yoga classes, music lessons, counseling, religious and spiritual services, and sports. In these activities, young people retake control over their lives, build on their strengths, and nourish their self-confidence.

Career & Education

Young people arrive at Covenant House 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 the world of work are key to a young person’s prospects for leaving homelessness behind. Either directly or through referral, we guide youth to appropriate educational and vocational 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.