Help young people find hope — and watch it grow
Christine came to Canada on a family trip from Uganda — but she never went back. As a 2SLGBTQAI+ activist, Christine faced real danger in her home country. Her family made the heartbreaking decision to leave her behind for her safety.
Alone in a new country with no legal status and limited resources, Christine eventually found Covenant House Vancouver (CHV) — a place where she could start again.
Your support helps create these life-changing moments for youth.
Until June 30, your gift will be matched — dollar for dollar — up to $100,000, thanks to our generous friends at the Wubs Family Foundation. That means twice the support for youth like Christine — and twice the impact to help young people find healing, connection, and a future filled with hope.
“Youth homelessness is a pressing issue in the Lower Mainland, and we feel a strong responsibility to act. We are honoured to support the vital work being done to provide a safe haven for vulnerable youth.” – Wubs Family Foundation
From survival to self-discovery
When Christine first arrived at CHV, she was quiet and guarded. “I just needed processing and healing space,” she says.
Staff respected her boundaries while checking in with care and consistency — a key part of the trauma-informed approach that helps youth feel safe on their own terms.
Over time, Christine began to trust. She made friends. With CHV’s support, she began her federal asylum application and connected with vital refugee and 2SLGBTQAI+ services.
A pathway to healing and connection
Christine joined goal-setting workshops and started therapy. She celebrated cultural holidays and joined in community events — opportunities that reminded her of home. “It gave me community vibes, just like where I come from,” she says.
Through CHV’s wraparound model of care, Christine transitioned from survival mode to rediscovery. She moved from an emergency shelter to independent housing, and gained confidence every step of the way
[COVENANT HOUSE VANCOUVER] GAVE ME COMMUNITY VIBES, JUST LIKE WHERE I COME FROM.
I DIDN’T KNOW IT AT THE TIME, BUT IT WAS FREEDOM. I WAS SO SCARED, BUT I WAS ALSO SO FREE
Rediscovering dreams — and finding purpose
Christine always had a creative spark. At CHV, she found the space to nurture it. She danced, modelled, and acted in films. Career counselling and workshops helped her explore deeper ambitions — and she realized that she wanted to help others the way that CHV had helped her.
With determination and support, Christine pursued an education in counselling.
A life transformed — and the journey continues
For Christine, CHV was a stepping-stone to a new life: “I didn’t know it at the time, but it was freedom. I was so scared, but I was also so free.”
Today, Christine is thriving. She’s a counsellor, who uses her lived experience to walk alongside others as they heal.
Your gift helps us provide youth with:
Mental Health
Supports
Trusting
Relationships
Healing
Through Art
Finding Home as a
Newcomer
Support for
2SLGBTQAI+ Youth
We are here to create safe and inclusive spaces where youth can heal.
Before Covenant House Vancouver, I was at my lowest. I felt rejected, scared, and completely alone. But Covenant House gave me more than just shelter — they gave me access to counselling, art therapy, and a space to heal. That support changed my life. Today I am a therapist. I am helping others the way that Covenant House had helped me
Christine, Covenant House Vancouver Alumnus
We walk alongside all youth, believe in them, and help them learn how to trust again.
When the people you trust the most let you down, it’s hard to open up again. At Covenant House Vancouver, I was met with unconditional love and absolute respect. The staff stood by me, believed in me, and helped me feel like i could trust again.
Christine, Covenant House Vancouver Alumnus
We use art as a tool for expression and a therapeutic outlet used to help youth work through, and overcome, their trauma.
Art has always been my outlet, but i never felt truly free to express myself until i came to Covenant House Vancouver. Whether it was dancing, drawing, or creating, Covenant House gave me the space to heal through art. That freedom shaped who i am today.
Christine, Covenant House Vancouver Alumnus
We help young people build roots and find home.
Leaving Uganda and arriving in Canada was a huge shock. I felt lost and like i didn’t belong. At Covenant House Vancouver, I found community. They connected me to people, resources, and spaces where i felt safe and seen. That support helped me put down roots and build a new life here.
Christine, Covenant House Vancouver Alumnus
We honour queer lives, uplift queer culture, and strive for a world where everyone is equally safe, valued, and free.
Back home, being openly queer was dangerous. I lived in fear every day. At Covenant House Vancouver, I was embraced for who i am. They connected me with the local queer community, and for the first time, i felt free to just be me.
Christine, Covenant House Vancouver Alumnus
IF YOU ARE A YOUTH OUT THERE THAT IS STRUGGLING AND ARE FEELING UNSAFE, YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED WITHIN YOU. IT’S IN THERE AND YOU CAN FIND IT, YOU JUST NEED TO ASK FOR HELP. YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF.
Christine, Covenant House Vancouver Alumnus