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. Now located in four counties, CHC opened its Orange County location in Anaheim serving more than 130 youth annually with a growing waitlist that is over 400 names long.

Covenant House Orange County served 139 young people experiencing homeless last year with 9,855 safe nights of care and 21,900 nutritious meals. Over 75% of these young people moved to stable housing.

In Orange County, youth homelessness is often hidden from view. Young people sleep in cars, storage units, parks, or rotate between friends' couches, not because they lack determination, but because they have nowhere safe to call home. Many are aging out of foster care, fleeing abuse, escaping human trafficking, or seeking acceptance after being rejected by their families.

Today, 462 young people are waiting for one of our 20 emergency housing beds. Many wait up to six months before space becomes available, and once admitted, they often remain in our program for more than a year because affordable housing is out of reach.

Every day spent waiting increases the risk of exploitation, trafficking, violence, and chronic homelessness. By investing in Covenant House California, funders can help transform that reality, providing not only safety and shelter, but a pathway to healing, independence, and a future filled with possibility.

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.

Every young person deserves the chance to build a future defined by possibility, not by where they slept the night before. Yet in Orange County, far too many young people are navigating homelessness alone, without the safety, stability, and caring relationships they need to thrive.

At Covenant House California, we believe our community can - and must - change that story. Together with generous supporters, dedicated partners, and local leaders, we are building more than housing. We are creating a place where young people find safety, healing, opportunity, and the unwavering belief that they matter. Every bed we open represents a young person protected from the dangers of the street and connected to comprehensive services that foster lasting independence, including case management, mental health care, education, workforce development, and life-skills training.

But our work is far from finished. Hundreds of young people are still waiting for the opportunity to walk through our doors. Their names on our waitlist are a daily reminder that the need is urgent - and that our community has the power to do more.

I believe Orange County has both the compassion and the capacity to ensure that no young person is left without a safe place to sleep or a pathway toward a brighter future. Together, we can expand hope, create opportunity, and ensure every young person is met with the absolute respect, unconditional love, and life-changing support they deserve.

Erika Hartman
Chief Executive Officer
Covenant House California

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