Covenant House Vancouver

Covenant House has seen a recent influx of youth coming to Vancouver in anticipation of the 2010 Olympic Games. These youth are homeless and jobless but hoping to take advantage of potential job opportunities related to the Games. Unfortunately, some of these young people are under the impression that Whistler is a 20 minute bus ride away and are quite shocked to learn that in fact, Whistler is 2 hours by bus.

Past Winter Games host cities reports suggest (and VANOC is planning for) an additional 400 young people will show up in Vancouver looking for a party, without shelter or means of support. The City of Vancouver plans to "mat" these youth in a hostel type situation.

For Covenant House, an additional 400 young people without shelter or money may mean more youth coming to us for shelter. Covenant House welcomes any young person in need, but we are not a hostel. Young people staying with us regardless of the Olympics, are expected to be working on a plan to achieve independence. Consistent with our principle of sanctuary, young people presenting at the shelter "under the influence" of drugs and/or alcohol will not be permitted to stay with us.