Covenant House has been rebuilding young lives for well over a decade. Our goal is not only to get youth off the street, but to help them develop the skills necessary to become productive members of society. The needs of these youth are multiple and increasingly complex. Typically without job skills or significant employment histories and with, on average, 6th grade literacy levels, these youth are now likely to have both substance abuse and mental health issues as well.

Until these issues are addressed, our primary programs to build educational and vocational skills, as well as life skills, and to secure permanent housing beyond Covenant House, are meaningless. Over the past year Covenant House has developed services that respond to the changing needs of these youth. We have implemented a clinical case management program led by new masters-level staff, added a weekly on-site psychiatric clinic, and initiated a 90-day substance abuse management program. Our goal is simply to provide better outcomes for youth.

We count our successes in many ways, including the eight young people who are in college this fall. Covenant House changes lives. We are guided by our mission of offering love and respect to any young person in need who enters our doors. With your support, we can continue this mission. We believe that every child deserves a chance and every child deserves a future.

Stacy Horn Koch
Executive Director
Covenant House New Orleans