2018impact report

1228 youth received our help

551 youth had contact with our Outreach staff

923 youth were helped by Community Support Services

(Street Outreach and Drop In Centre)

33 young people participated in our Rights of Passage program

474 stayed in our Crisis Program

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It has been a year of excitement and energy at Covenant House

Vancouver. Last fall we celebrated our 20th Anniversary of providing

love and hope to young people — over 20,000 youth have passed through

our doors since that day we opened in September 1997. Though the issues affecting

them have changed, the young people still present to us as resilient, talented and optimistic that their future will be brighter than their past.

WehavegeneratedwonderfulmomentumwithinourCapitalfundraisingcampaignandarethrilledtowatchthesteadyprogressoftheExpansionProjectandtheconstructionofthePhaseOnebuildingat530DrakeStreet.Opportu-nitiesforourdonorstogetinvolvedintheproject

Financially,weareinexcellentshapeaswehavebeensavingforthecostincreasesassociatedwithourserviceexpansion,combinedwithanextraordinaryone-time$2MgiftfromadonorwhowasnewtoCovenantHouse.This,alongwithexceptionalstewardshipofourresources,hasallowedustoachieveourBoardofDirectors’man-dateofhavinga“rainydayfund”thatholds3monthsofoperatingrevenueshouldanexternalfinancialorenviron-mentalemergencyoccur.

Ourfront-linestaffcontinuetoexhibitstrengthandcourageworkingwithouryoungpeople.Housingaffordabilityandadoublinginthenumberofdeathsfromopioidoverdoseamongstouryoutharehavingrealconsequencesforourprograms.Ourteamishardatworkaddressingtheseissuestoensurethatdespitewhatchallengesarise,ouryoungpeoplearewelcomedwarmlyandthattheyalwaysreceiveunconditionalloveandabsoluterespect.

Asalways,thestrengthofCovenantHouseisthesolidfoundationofyou,ourdonors,whoprovideuswithyour

giftsoftreasureandspirit.Justasouryoungpeoplefeelcaredforandencouraged,ourstaff,volunteersandBoardofDirectorsfeelthetremendoussupportthatyouprovideusyearafteryearwithsuchgenerosity.

Pleaseacceptmysincerethanksforyourcontinuedinvestmentintheyoungpeoplewhoturntousforhelp.Iknowhowgratefultheseyouthareforyourcare,soontheirbehalfIthankyoumostsincerely.

KristaK.thompsonExecutiveDirector

financiallywillbesharedinthenearfuture.

PhaseOneisscheduledtobecompletedinMarch,2019andallofourprogramsandservicescurrentlyoperatingoutof575DrakeStreetwillmoveacrossthestreetwhileanothernewbuildingisconstructedinitsplace.Itisanexcitingtimeforusknowingthatoncecompletein2020,thesetwonewbuildingsandtheprogramsthatoperatewithinthemwillexpandourservicesforyouthby70%.

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dear friends

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We’ve heard from our donors that they wish to hear about the issues that have impacted our service delivery — below are a few that we’ve faced during the past year:

feeling the impact

affordable housing

The inability for our staff to find affordable housing in Metro Vancouver is taking a toll:

Approximately30%ofemployeeturnoverlastyearwasdirectlyattributedtostaffleavingBritishColumbiatoseekmoreaffordablelifestylesandhousing.Wehavelearnedfromotheryouth-servingorganizationsthatattractingandretainingstaffishavingarealimpactonthesector’sabilitytoensurequalityserviceprovisioninsocialprogramsintheVancouverarea.

Wearecommittedtofindingsolutions;activelyexploringnewcompensationmodels,alternativehousingopportuni-tiesandpriorityaccesstohousingunitsforstaffastheybecomeavailable.

opioid crisis

LGBTQ2S+

25-40% of homeless youth are LGBTQ2S+ and family rejection is the most common cause of LGBTQ2S+ youth homelessness.

LGBTQ2S+youtharemuchmorelikelytostrugglewithmentalhealthconcerns,includingsuicidalthoughts.

CovenanthouseVancouverandoursistersitesthroughoutnorthandCentralamericaareactivelymakingourservicesmorewelcomingtoallyouthregardlessoftheirsexualorientationorgenderidentity.Locally,wearedoingthisinconsultationwiththerainbowadvisoryCommitteewhichconsistsofstaffthroughouttheagency.

The Opioid Crisis is claiming the lives of our youth, their friends and family:

Lastyear,approximately24youngpeopleassociatedwithushavediedtragicallyduetodrugoverdoses.Althoughtheseyouthwerenolongerinourday-to-daycare,manywerestillinregularcontactwithus.Theimpactonstaffhasbeenprofound,withmanysufferingfrom“griefoverload”astheystruggletocopewithonelossafteranother.

Weareactivelyexploringnewsupportsforfront-linestaffincludingcustomizedhealthbenefitstailoredtomeettheirspecificneeds.

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continuum of care

Covenant House opened in 1997 in response to an overwhelming need for residential and support services for homeless and at-risk youth. We are primarily privately funded (95%), supported by 180 employees, 140 volunteers and over 50,000 donors.

We offer a full range of services through a carefully designed continuum of care or “one-stop-

shop”. Our three core programs include:

TheOutreachTeamseeksoutyoungpeoplelivingonthestreets,inSROs,orthoseat-riskofbecominghomeless.TheOutreachTeamisthe“face”ofCovenantHouse,buildingtrustwiththeyouth,andencouragingthemtoaccessourprogramswheretheycangetsomethingtoeat,clothing,afriendlyconversationoranoutside

referral.Housingworkersandmental

healthcliniciansarealsoavailable.

Our59-bedCrisisProgramofferssafehousing,food,clothingandcounsellingtoyoungpeopleaged16–24.Wetakecareoftheirimmedi-ateneedsfirst,whichareusuallymedicalattention,foodandrest.Weencourageyouthtocreatetheirownplanforindependenceandwesupportthemeverystepoftheway.

street outreach and drop-in

crisis program

ROPisatransitionallivingprogramforyoungpeoplewhoneedhousing,structureandsupportastheystrivetowardindependence.Basiclifeskillsmostofustakeforgranted:budgeting,cooking,cleaningandgoalsettingaretaught.

Wealsoprovideemotionalsupportandcounselling.Weareproudtoreportthat100%ofyouthinROPtransitionoffthestreet.

Allourservicesareofferedwithgenuinecompassionandacceptance,withtheknowledgethattrustisthefoundationforasuccessfultransitionawayfromstreetlife.

rights of passage

(ROP)

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Julie, 16, came to us trying to escape the clutches of her boyfriend who was 32 and very controlling. Highly vulnerable, Julie’s cognitive abilities were like those of a nine- year-old — she had difficulty forming relationships and struggled with social cues.

“don’tcareaboutfosterkids”.HepromisedabetterlifeforherinVancouver.Juliewasteary-eyedwhenshesaidshehadn’texpectedtobelivingonthestreets.ItwasastorythatAmberhadheardmanytimesbefore.

AmberworkedcloselywithJulie,butitwaschallengingasherboyfriendstillhadalotofcontroloverherdecisionmaking.Juliewaspressuredbyherboyfriendtoleaveus—hewasmakingherfeelguiltyfornotstayingonthestreetswithhimpanhandlingformoney.

HetriedtoforceJulietohavesexformoneyandshedidn’tunderstandthatthisrequestwasunacceptable.AmberexplainedthatitisnotsafeforJulietostayonthestreetsintheDowntownEastsidewithsomeonewhoclearlydidnothaveherbestinterestsatheart.

Despiteherboyfriend’scontrollinginfluence,webuiltatrustingrelationshipwithJulie—somuchsothatshedecidedtoreturnhometoherfosterfamily.However,herboyfriendhadherIDandsheneededitback.ShelefttosaygoodbyetohimandgetherIDbackandthatwasthelasttimewesawher.

AfewyearspassedsincewehadseenJulie.Recently,Amberwasthinkingaboutherwhenshereceivedacallfromthefrontdeskworkersayingthatsomeonewasheretoseeher.AsAmberapproachedthelobby,shesawalovely,well-groomedyoungwoman,dressedveryprofessionally.Atfirst,shedidnotrecognizeJulie,butassoonasshestartedtalking,Amberknewrightawaythatitwasher.

Julieapologizedfortakingsolongtocomeandsayhello.Afterspendingquitesometimeonthestreets,shefinallyfoundthestrengthtoleaveherboyfriendandreturnhometoherfosterfamily.SheexplainedthatwhileatCovenantHouse,wekepttellingherthatshehadthepotentialtodowonder-fulthingswithherlifeandthisiswhatmadeherwantmoreforherself.

Juliehadre-establishedagreatrelationshipwithherfosterfamily,hadreturnedtoschool,wasabouttograduate,andwasworkingapart-timejob.AsshetoldherstorytoAmber,Juliewassmilingfromeartoear—shewastrulyproudofherselfandhappy,asarewetohearhowwellsheisdoing.

the impact of our programs

When she arrived, she was thin,

her clothes dirty, and her hair was tangled and matted.

Juliedidnotgraspwhenpeopleweretakingadvantageofher,whichiswhatbroughthertoVancouver.Herboyfriendconvincedhertoleaveherfosterfamily,sayingthatfosterparents

Julie

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youngwoman,Alex,attheairport.AlexspokeFrenchsoLaurenmadeasignthatread“bienvenuecheztoi”whichmeans“welcometoyourhome”.

Obviously,languagewasabitofabarrier,sothestaffusedonephonetotranslateFrenchtoEnglishandanotheronetotranslateEnglishtoFrench.LaurenandGeorgemanagedtoaskherwhatsheknewaboutVancouver.Theytalkedaboutthemountainsandotherthingsandeventuallybroughtuptheocean.

Alex’seyesimmediatelylitup.

Laurenasked,“Haveyoueverbeentotheocean?”

Alexsaidshehadn’t,butalwayswantedto.

LaurenandGeorgeknewexactlywhattheyhadtodo.Theysaid“Ifyou’veneverseentheocean,that’sabsolutelythefirstthingweneedtodo.It’sthemostimportantthing!”Atthenextintersection,theyturnedoffforadetourtoEnglishBay.Allthreeofthemgotoutandwalkedtothebeach.Alex’sfacewasfilled

withsuchjoy—shewassohappy.

Oncenearthewater,Alexlookedhesitantlyandaskedifshecoulddipherfeetintheocean.LaurenandGeorgeresponded“Absolutely!Youhavetobegroundedinthisnewplace”.

Alextookhershoesoff,dippedherfeetinthewater,andlookedoutonthehorizon.

Shewalkedaroundpickingupshellsonthebeachandknewthevarietyofeachone.WiththatonegestureofshowingAlextheocean,trustandfriendshipwasestablished.Theyfollowedupthesea-sidestopwithadrivethroughStanleyParktoshowoffVancouver’sbeautybeforeheadingbacktoCovenantHouse.

LaurenandGeorgedemon-stratedthateventhesmallestofgesturescanhaveaprofoundimpactonayoungpersonwhohasexperiencedsomuchtrauma.NowAlexissafefromthehorrorsofsexualexploitationinanewandwelcomingplace.

Alex

Our Community Support Services (CSS) program offers young people two vital services: a daily drop in where food, companionship and referrals are available; and street outreach where youth workers connect with youth who are living on the streets, staying in SROs (Single Room Occupancy) hotels or in hospital etc. The staff at CSS accompany youth

to appointments, help them navigate the world and provide company to the most lonely youth we see.

Lastfall,ourCSSteamwerenotifiedthatayoungwomanfromacrossthecountrywasarrivingbyplane,fleeingsexualtrafficking—theneedforhertoarrivesafelytoCovenantHousewaspara-mount.TwoofourOutreachWorkers,GeorgeandLauren,wereassignedtopickupthe

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We first met Sam three years ago when he showed up at the door of our Crisis Program (shelter). He had been living on the streets and had returned home the night before but wasn’t allowed in the house. His mom allowed him to sleep in the backyard rather than turn him back to the streets and she dropped him off at Covenant House the next day. This may sound harsh, but Sam’s mom had given him many chances in the past and she simply could not let him into the house.

Samexperiencedacoupleofsignificanttraumasinhisyounglife,andasaresultsufferedfromdepressionandanxiety.Hestartedusing

marijuanawhenhewas12andheroinat14.Samgotmixedupwiththewrongcrowdinhighschool.Lying,stealinganddealingdrugsbecamethenormforSamashejoinedagangandlivedthelifeofacriminalandaddict.Hehadburnedhisbridgeswithhisfamilyandhadnowheretocallhome.

Afterhismomdroppedhimoff,SamsettledintoourCrisisProgramandrespondedwelltothestructureweprovide.Whilehere,hesaidgood-byetohiscriminalpastandcommittedtokickinghisharddrughabit.Samhadleftthegangandwasreadytomoveforwardwithanewlife.Herefrainedfromusingdrugs,startedexploringschooloptions,securedajobintherestaurantindustryandwenttocounselling.

OnceSamfeltbetterandmoreoptimisticabouthisfuture,hewasreadytotakethenextstepbymovingintoourtransitionallivingprogram,RightsofPassage(ROP).WhileatROP,Samcontinuedtoexcel:hegotpromotionsatwork,andthroughourScholarshipprogramwasabletotake

Sam

severaluniversitycourses.Heworkedhardtorebuildhisrelationshipwithhisfamily.

WorkingwiththestaffatROP,Samdevelopedthelife-skillsthatmostofustakeforgranted:healthyeating,exerciseandself-care.Arolemodelforotheryouthintheprogram,Samoftenhelpedhisfellowresidentswithjobsearchingandcommunitybuilding.HeevenparticipatedinourSleepOuteventsasayouthpanelist,sharinghisstorywithcandorandbravery.

Notlongago,SammovedoutofROPintohisownapartment.Heiscontinuingtoadvancehiscareerinthefoodindustryandisstillworkingonhiseducation.Findinghistruelove,Samrecentlygotmarried!WearesoproudofSamandhiscommitmenttoturnhislifearoundandwishhimcontinuedsuccessashemovesintothenextstageofhislife.

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•Served 1228 youth

•OpenedfiveadditionalbedsinthemaleCrisisProgram

•Formallyaccredited by Praesidium(ChildProtectionProgram)

•HostedtheHuman Trafficking roundtableofJusticeandHumanRightsCommitteeoftheFederalGovernment

Expanded our services for LGBTQ2S+(Lesbian,

Gay,Bi-Sexual,Transgender,Queer,Two-Spirited)

•ParticipatedintheBC Housing

Leaders Forum,theCanadianAllianceto

EndHomelessnessandtheAmericanBarAssociationConference—HomelessYouthLegalNetwork

•CelebratedCHV’s20th Anniversary year — 20,000 youth served!

•Over30employeesfromTelushelpedrenovatesomeofthecommonareasatourPenderStreetbuildingfortheir

“Telus Day of Caring”

•OurSleep Out Events (ExecutiveEdition,YoungProfessionals,Student,andMothersorDaughters)raised over $1,600,000

•16,464 volunteer hours weredonated

•Coast Capitalsupportedusthrougha$100,000contributionforourJuneMatchCampaign

TheVancouver WhiteCaps FCraisedover$80,000duringtheirBuckUpforMentalHealthevent

ParticipatedintheMasquerade for Mental HealthattheGovernorGeneralofCanada’sevent

PROGRAM EnHAnCEMEnTS In THE DROP-In CEnTRE:

•Food service isattheheartofourprogramsaswholesomefoodfacilitatesrelationshipbuildingandsimultaneouslymeetsavitalneedforhungryyouthinthecommunity.

Toenhanceourfoodservice,weworkedwithadieticiantoensureallmealsarehealthyandmeetindividualdietaryneedsandourbreakfastsnowincludemoreproteintosustainhomelessyouthforlonger.

•AnArt Therapy GroupisrunningeveryWednesdayintheDrop-InCentre.OneofourMentalHealthClinicians,Dr.KeithThurlow-Bishop,recentlyreceivedAlder

University’sCommunityPartnershipAwardforhisworkwithhisarttherapystudents.

•Thereisnowa comfortable, monitored space in the Drop-In Centre where youth may have a nap.Havingasafeandrelaxingenvironmenttosleepinisarareexperienceforhomelessyouth.Gettingthisvitalresthasledtoyouthbeinglesson-edgeandmoreopentoreceivingfurtherhelp.

•Thankstoavolunteeraccountant,atax clinichasbeensetupintheDrop-InCentreonTuesdaymornings.Youthmusthavetheirtaxesuptodateinordertoqualifyforincomeassistance,whichisanimportantfirststepformanyyouthtohavethemeanstoturntheirlivesaround.

this year’s highlights

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Sean Muggah,ChairPartner,BordenLadnerGervaisLLP

Allan P. SeckelQC,ViceChairCEO,DoctorsofBC

Geoff Chutter,TreasurerPresident&CEO,WhiteWaterWestIndustriesLtd.

Sarah ClarkP.Eng.,SecretaryCOO,FraserRiverPile&Dredge(GP)Inc.

Shelley BrownFCPA,FCA,ICD.DSeniorPartner(Retired),Deloitte

John DeLucchiFCPA,FCAManagingPartner,BCRegion,PwC

Paul D. HallidayMBA,CPA(CMA)ManagementConsultant,BusinessManagement,EnvironmentalandDevelopmentSectors

Mélanie HennesseyVicePresident,CorporateCommunications,NovaGoldResourcesInc.

Cynthia JohansenMAL,M.Sc.Registrar&CEO,CollegeofRegisteredNursesofBC

Terry KrepiakevichCPA,CA,ICD.DDirector,KalynaConsultingLtd.

Rachel LewisMBACOO,VancouverWhitecapsFC

Daryl J. WiebeSuperintendent(Retired),VancouverPoliceDepartment

the impact of your generosity

Completeauditedfinancialstatementsareavailableonrequestbycalling604-638-4438oron-lineatwww.covenanthousebc.org.

Donationsandbequests

revenue

Governmentcontributions

Otherincome

Amortizationof deferredcontributions

expenses

Youthprograms

Revenueandrelationshipdevelopment

program services expenses

ShelterandCrisisCare

Publiceducation

RightsofPassage

Outreach/CommunitySupportServices

FinanceandAdministration

senior staff Krista Thompson

ExecutiveDirector

John HarveyDirector,ProgramServices

Herb EibensteinerDirector,Finance&Operations

Darlene LynchDirector,Development&Communications

Brenda KumarDirector,People&Culture

Michelle ClausiusAssociateDirector,Development&Communications

The Reverend Mark MunnOmbudspersonandSpiritualCare

Senior Staff may be reached at: 604-685-5437

board of directors

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$18,692,735

$15,591,126

$10,154,220

18

575DrakeStreetVancouverBCV6B4K8

Tel:(604)638–GIFT(4438)CrisisProgram:(604)685–7474Fax:(604)685–5324www.covenanthousebc.org

Visituson:

ThebeautifuldesignofourImpactReportwasprovidedatasignificantdiscountbyVioletFinvers(violetfinversglass.com).