Covenant House California

Covenant House builds a bridge to hope for young people facing homelessness, including survivors of human trafficking and young families, through unconditional love, absolute respect, and relentless support. Our doors are open 24/7 in 4 counties across California, and our high-quality programs are designed to empower young people to rise and define a future for themselves. Our North Star is to end youth homelessness as we know it today.

CHC was established in 1988 when a few dedicated volunteers began serving youth experiencing homelessness in Hollywood, providing food, services, and unconditional love. They began engaging youth living on the streets to give them a sense of being valued and connecting them with a network of community resources with the goal of helping them move into stable housing situations. Today, CHC serves more than 2,100 youth in six counties state-wide (Orange, Los Angeles, Alameda, Santa Clara & Santa Cruz), with additional locations opening in the coming months.

Covenant House Orange County served more than 200 young people experiencing homeless in fiscal year 2024 with 12,487 nights of care and 27,543 meals served.

In Orange County, beneath the clean, palm tree-lined streets, youth homelessness hides in plain sight. Young people sleep in cars, storage units, or rotate between friends’ couches, not because they lack grit, but because surviving here requires a resilience most of us will never be asked to summon. They are aging out of foster care, leaving unsafe homes, or simply trying to live authentically in a world that has not made space for them.

The County’s 2024 Homeless Point In Time count revealed a 28% increase in homelessness over the past two years.

Our waitlist has 300 names and growing. Many young people wait up to six months before we can offer them a safe space in one of our twenty beds. Once the arrive, they often stay more than a year, not out of stagnation, but because affordable, stable housing is nearly impossible to secure. Without youth-specific housing options, these vulnerable individuals are forced into environments that lack the comprehensive support needed to overcome trauma and build a foundation for a successful future. With limited to no transitional housing options specific to their unique needs, young people risk falling back into unsafe, unstable situations when their time with us ends.

Covenant House Orange County serves all young people between the ages of 18 - 24 throughout the County, and its emergency Housing program is located in Anaheim.

Providing a safe place for young people experiencing homelessness in Orange County has been a labor of love to see it come to fruition. By collaborating with community leaders, existing providers, long-term supporters of Covenant House, and the City of Anaheim, we were finally able to open the first housing programs, specifically tailored to the unique needs of Transitional Aged Youth (TAY) in Orange County (Anaheim). We are thrilled to offer 65 housing placements for young people who would otherwise be sleeping on the street, or in other unsafe circumstances. With an extensive waiting list for youth who don't have a safe place to sleep, we know there is so much more to do!

All housing that CHC provides, is accompanied by an array of supportive services, such as; case management, health and mental health support, independent living skills training, and education and employment support. Through our staff, alumni, volunteers, donors, corporations, and many other stakeholders invested in our mission, we create a community of support and compassion, that enable young people to thrive and achieve permanent independence.

We can’t wait to do more with the community of Orange to ensure that every young person experiencing homelessness has a safe place to sleep, nutritious meals to eat, and are treated with absolute respect and unconditional love!

Ami Rowland, Chief Program Officer

Covenant House California is pleased to be part of the solution in ending youth homelessness in Orange County, keeping young people safe, and moving them towards a stable and purpose-driven lives. During a time when we have seen unprecedented heartache, we have also experienced unexpected favor and an outpouring of support that has not only confirmed what a special community we are a part of but has also been the source of encouragement and love for our youth and staff.

In the past few years, many other homeless housing programs have closed their doors forever. The overwhelming number of youth on the streets (and it is historic) is palpable. We have quickly become the last hope for young people with no other place to turn. Like you, our young people crave stability and normalcy that many of them have never experienced — without a loving support system.

Our job is to step in on the cycle of homelessness, trauma and poverty, and prevent young people from ever getting to the point at which they are labelled ‘chronically’ homeless. We are honored to contribute our 35 years of experience to Orange County, and work together in ending youth homelessness for good! Covenant House California specializes in serving transitional-age young people with in an inclusive, supportive, culturally relevant manner and will continue to leverage an increasing network of community stakeholders and partners in Orange County.

We are grateful for the opportunity to be a light for young people in Orange County who have never had the luxury of living in a healthy family, being treated with absolute respect, or loved unconditionally.

Ilene Harker, Board Chair