2018 impact - covenant house vancouver...6 7 continuum of care covenant house opened in 1997 in...
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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
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575DrakeStreetVancouverBCV6B4K8
Tel:(604)638–GIFT(4438)CrisisProgram:(604)685–7474Fax:(604)685–5324www.covenanthousebc.org
Visituson:
ThebeautifuldesignofourImpactReportwasprovidedatasignificantdiscountbyVioletFinvers(violetfinversglass.com).
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