Your Impact in 2023 — Part 1

Our 2023 Impact Report is out!

Thanks to your support, we helped many youth overcome many challenges, in many ways. We would like to share your 2023 impact, over the course of two posts.

It truly takes a village. Thanks to the support from individuals to organizations across the greater community, Covenant House Vancouver was able to support vulnerable and at-risk youth, in the following ways:

Anti-Human Trafficking Toolkit: Thanks to funding by Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE), and the collaboration with many frontline workers, colleagues, and staff, Covenant House was able to create a toolkit, the first of its kind, that will supply service providers with a means to help reduce the risk of trafficking and the barriers that prevent support, in an effort to co-create a safer future.

Outreach and Drop-In Centre: Thanks to you, Covenant House was able to expand their Drop-In and Outreach services to 7 days a week. Vulnerable and homeless youth will have access to critical services through Covenant House’s Outreach teams meeting youth where they are at, and the Drop-In Centre, where youth can rest, do laundry, take a shower, receive a hot meal, and access support services.

Emergency Weather Beds: Thanks to you, in November of 2023, Covenant House Vancouver began providing emergency beds at 1280 Seymour Street, for 10 youth, age 16–24, whenever Extreme Weather Alerts are issued, typically for weather conditions that feel like 0°C. Additional staff have been hired to ensure that youth are safe and cared for.

Hope for the Holidays: Thanks to you, every December, Covenant House is able to run this campaign. Hope for the Holidays is an initiative that consists of the Caring Calendar and the Holiday Backpack Campaign. The Caring Calendar appears in November and is an opportunity for people to donate in a variety of ways. You can choose to donate food, like ice cream or pizza, gift cards, or experiences, so that youth have something special to look forward to. The backpacks are filled with a variety of much needed sundry items that were donated. This December, volunteers gathered to fill 350 backpacks that were then distributed to youth.

Christmas Day support: Thanks to you, on December 25^th, Covenant House Vancouver served 152 youth across all programs and services. That included 75 youth who spent the day in Covenant House’s Drop-In Centre, and eight youth who accessed our Emergency Weather Bed initiative.

Thanks to you, Covenant House Vancouver was able to provide wraparound programs and services that supported each youth’s unique needs.

Thanks to you, In 2023, Covenant House Vancouver:

None of the amazing work that Covenant House Vancouver accomplishes would be possible without the support of its community’s policies, members, and organizations. Covenant House Vancouver would like to thank each and every one of you, and wishes you all the best for 2024.