Covenant House New Orleans

We who recognize God's providence and fidelity to His people are dedicated to living out His Covenant among ourselves and those children we serve, with absolute respect and unconditional love. This committment calls us to serve suffering children of the street, and to protect and safeguard all children. Just as Christ in His Humanity is the visible sign of God's presence among His people, so our efforts together in the covenant community are a visible sign that effects the presence of God, working through the Holy Spirit among ourselves and our kids. --Covenant House mission statement

That's Our Covenant.

In 1987, Covenant House opened its doors with a simple promise to New Orleans - in the spirit of Catholic social justice, we would shelter homeless youth of the city. 36 years later, we've kept our covenant and built so much more.

Covenant House's doors have been open 24/7/365, touching the lives of over 35,000 youth ever since. We practice Jesus's example of radical welcome, immediately offering sanctuary to homeless youth at no cost. Beyond shelter, we offer transitional living, education and vocational training, health care, rental assistance, and most importantly, unconditional love.

Our work is primarily sustained by contributions from caring people like you. Will you make your covenant with our youth?

Who We Are

Covenant House was founded on the edge of the French Quarter 30 years ago to provide a safe haven for homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth (ages 22 and under). We have provided over 30,000 young people with food, shelter, clothing, medical care, educational and vocational support, individual and family counseling, job readiness and placement, short & long-term housing, life skills, and more.

The vast majority of our youth have endured physical and/or sexual abuse and have also experienced the violence of the streets. Our counselors estimate 85% suffer from some form of traumatic stress disorder.

Our first priority is always to reunite our youth with healthy, functional family. For the majority of our kids for whom family is not an option, we give them an educational & vocational assessment and help them find a job that suits their skills and interest. We offer many services to help, from mock interviews & resume writing classes to workshops on basic life skills and healthy relationships.

Last year, we provided comprehensive services to 896 youth:

Crisis Care – 446 youth and children took refuge from the streets and abusive homes, receiving food, clothing, shelter, case management, and counseling. We helped 74% of the youth in our 24/7 Emergency Crisis Center find stable housing, including family reunification whenever possible.

Rights of Passage (ROP) – 86 young men, women, and families resided on campus as they worked, saved, continued their education, and learned new life skills. 82% of ROP graduates secured a job and stable housing.

Health Services – 3,232 residents and community youth benefited from onsite adolescent and pediatric healthcare, provided in partnership with Tulane Medical School.

Behavioral Health – 95% of our youth received mental and behavioral health services from our licensed counselors and a Tulane psychologist; 90% showed improved functioning in jobs, school, and interpersonal relations.

Employment and Job Training – 281 youth were served in our employment programs. 83% found work or entered job training programs like Café Reconcile, Liberty’s Kitchen, JOB1, and our own White Dove Landscaping. We teach our youth job search & retention skills and have volunteers who conduct mock interviews.

Education – 109 youth and children enrolled in elementary school, high school, or college; 12 youth enrolled in GED programs like Youth Empowerment Project.

Human Trafficking – 255 victims of human trafficking received services from the Greater New Orleans Human Trafficking Task Force, with Covenant House as lead service provider in collaboration with our community partners.

Street Outreach – 259 youth were provided with outreach services, including food, water, and hygiene packets.

Return Home – 157 youth were provided with bus or plane tickets across the country to reunite with family or relatives who were able to offer a stable and safe living environment.

To find out more about Covenant House, please visit www.CovenantHouseNOLA.org