On any given day, an estimated 500 to 1,000 youth experiencing homelessness are living on Vancouver’s streets. Some are fleeing abuse or exploitation. Others find themselves on the street after ageing out of foster care or being rejected by their families. Among those who do have a place to call home, thousands more struggle with life’s challenges, including mental illness and substance use.

While people experiencing homelessness in Vancouver is nothing new, the problem today is acute and complex. Mental health and substance use issues have historically been barriers to housing, and for many of the youth we serve, who have unique needs, the search for housing is particularly difficult. The situation is exacerbated by the rising costs of living and housing.

For youth experiencing homelessness, their immediate challenge isn’t just finding a way off the street. The challenge is trying to navigate complicated systems and overcome barriers without adequate support or healthy relationships — all while experiencing complex trauma. In this context, figuring out which way to go and taking one step in that direction is a daunting challenge.

Our goal is to empower youth to change their lives and break the cycle of youth homelessness.

CHV is the largest youth-serving organization in Western Canada. Our unique model of care reduces barriers to access. Our onsite social workers, clinical counsellors and other staff offer life-skills training, medical care, therapy, and many other programs and services that close the gaps, offering youth the services and support they need.

CHV is one of 34 Covenant House locations globally. Each Covenant House location benefits from the experience of the others. Widely regarded as a leader and innovator among Covenant House locations, CHV is uniquely positioned to tackle youth homelessness.

Covenant House Vancouver offers a continuum of programs and services that incorporate evidence-based practices to ensure that we care for the whole person — mind, body, and spirit. View all our programs and services here.

CHV has championed the development of programs and services that are new to the international organization and to North America. New programs are introduced based on identified and measured needs, and we remain diligent in monitoring the results of these programs, including internal and external reviews, to ensure that they are proven to be effective.

In the years ahead, beyond the planned expansion of programs and services made possible by our new buildings and planned renovations, we will continue to carefully monitor emerging needs and will develop or introduce programs when appropriate.

Every year, over 50,000 people from BC and beyond step up to support CHV. Their donations, of all sizes, enable us to reach youth whose futures are in peril. When a single youth changes their path, with support from CHV, our community, our city, and our province benefit. Most importantly, young lives are saved, often literally. We serve youth around the clock, 365 days a year.

We know that our programs are effective. Not only do we see positive changes in the youth we work with, but our surveys also show that youth believe that they are benefiting.

Thanks to donor support, youth have the opportunity to discover their passions, access education, find a job, and pursue happiness. At CHV, youth experience love, trust, being heard, and feeling valued. Some of them experience this for the first time. They all discover that there is hope for the future and a life beyond the streets.

Still, too many young people remain on Vancouver’s streets and, on occasion, we have to turn them away because our supported housing is at capacity. We must continue to expand our programming to better serve youth segments, including Indigenous youth and 2SLGBTQAI+ youth. With your help we can do more.