Tonight, Covenant House Vancouver will host Sleep Out: Executive Edition.
There are approximately 500–1,000 young people without a safe place to sleep every night in Metro Vancouver. Each of them has a story, a dream, and a future.
Sleep Out participants advocate for those futures. Our community of business professionals, executives, thought leaders and visionaries give up their beds for one night to ensure that young people overcoming homelessness can sleep safely at Covenant House Vancouver.
Our sleepers are raising money for the Crisis Program. This is a short-term, supported housing program where young people who find themselves without shelter or support can stay free of charge for as long as they need to, because getting through a crisis takes as long as it takes.
At Covenant House, our Crisis Program is part of our continuum of care and welcomes young people between the ages of 16 and 24 who need short-term or emergency housing. We provide housing and wraparound services, in a safe supportive environment. Young people have often experienced trauma when arriving at Covenant House. They are scared, sick, hungry, and exhausted, so our first priority is to meet young people’s basic needs:
- Medical attention
- Nutritious food
- A safe place to sleep
- Warm showers
- Clothing
- Hygiene supplies
As youth become comfortable in the space and determine that they can move forward, at a pace that is their own, they begin to work with their key youth worker and social worker to set goals for their future and access our other services, such as mental health care and housing support. Youth can also receive employment and education supports, life skills training, access to Registered Clinical Counsellors, and help with transitioning to independence, when ready.
By supporting our sleepers and the Crisis Program, you become a driving force behind the impactful transformation of youth. Your involvement helps break the cycle of homelessness and ignites a spark of hope that can shape futures.
Thanks to the generosity of George and Sylvia Melville, all donations, up to $150,000, for Sleep Out: Executive Edition will be matched for double the impact.
Earlier this week, some of our well-known landmarks, like BC Place and Science World, were lit up in blue. Thank you! Tonight, Vancouver Lookout will light up in CHV blue in support of #CHSleepOut.
Be part of the conversation on social media using the hashtag #CHSleepOut. You can follow Covenant House Vancouver on Twitter @CovenantHouseBC, on Instagram @covenanthousebc, on LinkedIn, or on our Facebook page.
A big thank you to all of our sleepers and their supporters! Dontate to a team or an individual today and join us in making a difference and fostering a world where every young person can realize their potential.