Vancouver Business Leaders Raise More than $1 Million to Support Homeless Youth
Last night, a caring group of local business leaders came together in a powerful show of solidarity for homeless youth. Huddled in sleeping bags, on sheets of cardboard, they spent a chilly night outside in a city alley to raise funds and awareness to support young people who don’t have a safe place to sleep.
It’s all part of Sleep Out: Executive Edition, our annual event that brings together influential community leaders to help ensure that Covenant House Vancouver can provide unconditional support to every youth who walks through its doors.
As night fell, several city landmarks, including BC Place, Science World, the Vancouver Convention Centre — including the Olympic Cauldron, and Pacific Coliseum lit up blue in honour of Sleep Out.
But the community support didn’t stop there: thanks to local philanthropists George and Sylvia Melville, many donations for this event were matched, up to $150,000. Additionally, the Nicola Family Foundation boosted its donation match for Sleep Out to $100,000, doubling donations to the participating team from Nicola Wealth.
Because of this generous support and much more, the event met its fundraising goal of $1 million. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!
Funding the Crisis Program: Meeting Youth’s Most Urgent Needs
Funds raised from Sleep Out will go primarily toward our Crisis Program. With a capacity of 60 beds, this short-term housing program meets the most urgent needs of homeless youth, age 16 to 24, by providing emergency housing and wraparound services in a safe, supportive environment.
Covenant House Vancouver CEO, Deb Lester, participated in Sleep Out for her second time, last night. She took the stage to address attendees and underscore the difference they were making.
“We could not do what we do without your incredible support. This truly is an example of a community coming together and locking arms in a mission to serve,” she said. “Your support through Sleep Out sends a strong message of solidarity, and a strong message to the young people that ‘you are worth it.’”
Stories of Hope: Youth Voices at Sleep Out
Young people have often experienced trauma before arriving at Covenant House. They are scared, sick, hungry, and exhausted, so our priority is to meet their basic needs. These include a safe place to sleep, clothing, warm showers, nutritious food, medical attention, and hygiene supplies. From there, the youth can access long-term, life-changing services such as employment and education counselling, mental health support, and other resources to help youth build stable, resilient futures.
“When I first got to Covenant House and walked through the doors, I felt a sense of warmth and safety,” said Willow, a former resident who joined two other youth to speak as part of a panel during the evening. “When I finished the intake [process], and I had a bedroom to sleep in, that’s when I knew, okay, I’m safe here.”
Another member of the youth panel, Kai — a current resident — spoke about coming to Covenant House during the tumultuous times of the COVID 19 pandemic, and appreciating, not only the sense of safety, but the strong connections forged with fellow youth.
Dylan a former resident, told participants about his personal journey, arriving at Covenant House Vancouver after his family became homeless. “Gang violence was the norm for my community, and when I first came to Covenant House, I really wasn’t sure what to expect,” he said. “But then it really dawned on me that this was my first experience with safety.” Today, he’s thriving on his own, and extremely proud of his artwork, music, and poetry; passions he discovered while living at Covenant House.
Deepening Empathy: The Sleep Out Community
For many Sleep Out participants, the event is eye-opening, no matter how many times they have attended. Seven-time participant Ronan Deane shared reflections on why he takes part:
“Every time I come, I learn something new about the organization that I didn’t know before,” he said. “I have teenage girls myself, and it’s not hard to think that they could be in the same situation as of any of the kids here. Life throws many curveballs at people.”
Sleep Out is about more than raising funds; it’s about deepening empathy and creating a community that is committed to helping youth find stability and safety. And thanks to the incredible support of our Sleep Out participants and donors, Covenant House Vancouver is closer to achieving its vision: a Vancouver where every young person has a safe place to sleep and the support that they need to thrive.
Ready to Make a Difference? Join the Sleep Out Movement!
Will you join the Sleep Out movement? You can still donate to support one of last night’s participants.
Or, sign up for the February 2025 Champions Edition of Sleep Out and stand with us in creating a better future for homeless youth.