Covenant House Michigan Puts Homeless Youth on the Path to Success

Ida Benson recounts the story of a young man she encountered a few years ago who endured life at more than 15 foster care homes. Just prior to aging out of Michigan's Foster Care System, the young man emancipated himself and turned to Covenant House Michigan for help. Though he struggled with mental health issues, the young man had dreams of becoming a certified Emergency Medical Technician; but he had never learned to drive. "In all his time in foster care, no one ever bothered to say ,'Hey, let's go get your driver's license;'" she recalls. "We made sure he got his driver's license at 22 years old."

Benson is Director of Development and Communications at Covenant House Michigan (CHM), which serves homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth aged 18 to 24. Opened in 1997, Covenant House Michigan is part of the larger Covenant House International, which was founded in 1972 and has locations throughout the Americas. In Michigan, nearly 1,000 young people age out of the Foster Care System each year, with many unprepared to adjust to independent living and ending up homeless or victimized. "Most of our young people come from the foster care system," says Benson. "Homelessness interrupts their progress toward adulthood and future independence and self-sufficiency."

The sad truth is there are many avenues which leave young people homeless and without support of caring adults including mental health issues, domestic abuse and neglect, instability within the family unit including eviction, and exploitation by human traffickers.

"When you think of someone who's homeless, you think of somebody you see on the streets or on the corners asking for money," says Benson. "A young person really doesn't want to be homeless; it's a scary, scary place out there." She explains that many young people either run away or are kicked out of their home due to gender identity issues, experimentation with drugs, abuse, or the death of the head of the household, adding that most young people are not homeless by choice.

CHM operates an emergency shelter in Detroit where youth may stay up to 90 days. During this time, immediate issues are addressed such as obtaining important documents, tackling health issues, or figuring out legal problems. While at the emergency shelter, young people are encouraged to either get a job or attend school and begin looking for a safe place to live.

CHM's Outreach Program is essentially "boots on the ground," as it patrols the streets of metro Detroit daily, seeking out homeless youth in homeless camps, cars and abandoned houses, providing food and resources and trying to get them to consider the emergency shelter as an option to living on the streets.

CHM offers more than just food and shelter; they offer a guided plan for independence and success. A transitional living program, Rights of Passage, allows young people to take up to two years to further their education while sharpening basic living skills. While in this program, young people receive counseling, mentoring, and medical care as well. CHM's Employment Center allows young people to learn about employment expectations and ethics, communication skills, resume writing, and job interview prep. CHM also operates four charter schools in Detroit and Grand Rapids for those youth who want to finish their schooling and earn a high school diploma.

"Covenant House Michigan provides youth facing homelessness with shelter, education and vocational programs," says Benson. "We really try to build a bridge for young people facing homelessness and survivors of trafficking through unconditional love, absolute respect, and relentless support. Our doors are open 24/7 and our programs are designed to empower young people." CHM's dedication was evident last year when the campus never shut down as COVID-19 took over the state, forcing the closure of businesses and schools. CHM remained open but in lockdown, allowing those who wanted to leave to do so.

"The least interesting thing about our youth is that they're homeless. They're bright, they're funny, they have goals and ambitions. They don't want to be known as a homeless young person," says Benson. "We want to be out of business. We don't want to have young people out on the streets, but while there still is youth homelessness, we will be here for them."

CHM relies on donations to accomplish its mission. Its biggest fundraising event, Sleep Out is coming up on March 19. Participants raise funds for CHM and awareness of the problem of homelessness by sleeping outdoors in an uncomfortable location. They gain an understanding of what homeless young people face.

If you or a young person you know is facing homelessness, go to http://www.covenanthousemi.org. At the top of the main page are tabs to get help, volunteer, or donate. Covenant House's Detroit Campus is located at 2959 Martin Luther King Jr.Boulevard and can be reached at 313-463-2000 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.