COVENANT HOUSE NEW JERSEY
330 WASHINGTON STREET, NEWARK, NJ 07102 www.covenanthousenj.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: EMERGENCY SHELTER AND CRISIS CARE COVENANT HOUSE NEW JERSEY WELCOMES ALL YOUNG PEOPLE FACING HOMELESSNESS WITH UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, ABSOLUTE RESPECT, AND RELENTLESS SUPPORT, AS OUR SHELTER DOORS ARE ALWAYS OPEN, 24/7. EVEN WHEN THE COVID VIRUS PRESENTED THE WORST PUBLIC HEALTH CRISES IN A CENTURY, WE QUICKLY ADJUSTED OUR PROCEDURES, PROVIDED FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND KEPT OUR PROGRAMS GOING. WE KNOW YOUNG PEOPLE FACING HOMELESSNESS CANNOT WAIT FOR A CRISIS LIKE THIS TO BE OVER. THEIR UNMET NEEDS FOR NUTRITIOUS FOOD, CLOTHING, SHELTER, SAFETY, MEDICAL CARE, AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE REQUIRE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. [SEE CONTINUATION ON SCHEDULE O]CHNJ PROVIDES HIGH-QUALITY SERVICES AND PROGRAMS TO MEET THOSE NEEDS, STABILIZING A YOUNG PERSON'S SITUATION, AND HELPING THEM BEGIN TO CONSIDER THEIR LONGER-TERM GOALS FOR EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND CAREER PLANNING. WE ARE EXPERTLY EQUIPPED TO RESPOND TO THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF YOUNG SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, THOSE WHO IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ, AND THOSE WHO ARE PREGNANT OR PARENTING. IN FISCAL YEAR 2020, CHNJ SERVED 621 YOUTH IN RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING 42 MOTHERS AND BABIES, AS WELL AS HELPING 203 YOUTH THROUGH DROP-IN AND NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS. OVERALL, CHNJ SERVED A TOTAL OF 1,884 YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS CORE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.

RIGHTS OF PASSAGE (ROP) COVENANT HOUSE NEW JERSEY'S TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAMS, OFTEN REFERRED TO AS "RIGHTS OF PASSAGE OR ROP, ARE WHERE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TAKE THEIR BOLDEST STEPS TOWARD INDEPENDENCE. YOUTH PLAN TO LIVE IN ROP FOR 18-24 MONTHS, WHERE THEY TAP THEIR POTENTIAL AND PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. HERE THEY BUILD BASIC LIFE SKILLS AND FINANCIAL LITERACY, PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS, SEEK EMPLOYMENT WITH LONG-TERM ADVANCEMENT AND CAREER PROSPECTS, WHILE WORKING TOWARD MOVING INTO THEIR OWN SAFE AND STABLE HOUSING. OUR STAFF SUPPORT EACH YOUNG PERSON ON THEIR JOURNEY TOWARD SUSTAINABLE INDEPENDENCE AND A HOPE-FILLED FUTURE. IN FISCAL YEAR 2020, 79 YOUNG PEOPLE WERE ASSISTED THROUGH TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAMS.

COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER - THE NEWARK AND ATLANTIC CITY COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTERS (CSC) ARE THE CORE OF OUR SERVICE PROVISION IN NORTH AND SOUTH JERSEY. THERE, WE PROVIDE AN ARRAY OF IMPORTANT SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO RESIDENTS AND DAY SERVICE CLIENTS (NON-RESIDENTS) TO ENCOURAGE, ENGAGE AND EMPOWER YOUTH TO MOVE TO A POSITIVE LIVING ENVIRONMENT. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE CASE MANAGEMENT, LEGAL ASSISTANCE, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE, AND THROUGH OUR DOVE LEARNING CENTER: CAREER DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, FINANCIAL LITERACY, SOCIAL NAVIGATION, AND WELLNESSALL WITH A FOCUS ON RESILIENCY. [SEE CONTINUATION ON SCHEDULE O]- LEGAL SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY: AT COVENANT HOUSE NEW JERSEY OUR YOUTH ADVOCACY CENTER (YAC) IS STAFFED BY LICENSED ATTORNEYS PROVIDING LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO OUR YOUTH IN A VARIETY OF LEGAL MATTERS INCLUDING FAMILY LAW, LANDLORD/TENANT, MUNICIPAL COURT, PUBLIC BENEFITS, IMMIGRATION, AND ADVOCACY. THE YAC ALSO WORKS ON ADVOCACY PROJECTS AND CONDUCTS EDUCATIONAL GROUPS FOR YOUTH ON A VARIETY OF LEGAL TOPICS. THE YAC HAS CONTINUED INVOLVEMENT IN THE STATEWIDE COVENANT HOUSE HUMAN TRAFFICKING STUDY THROUGH WHICH WE HOPE TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEEDS AND ISSUES OF YOUTH THAT COME THROUGH OUR DOORS WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN OR AFFECTED BY TRAFFICKING. IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2020, OUR CHNJ LEGAL TEAM ASSISTED YOUTH ON A TOTAL OF 79 LEGAL ISSUES.- HEALTH AND WELL-BEING: HOMELESSNESS IMPACTS YOUNG PEOPLE'S PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING IN MANY WAYS, AND BECAUSE YOUTH ARE STILL DEVELOPING COGNITIVELY, PHYSICALLY, PSYCHOLOGICALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY, THOSE IMPACTS CAN HAVE DEEP EFFECTS. THIS IS EVEN MORE THE CASE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR AND THOSE WHO IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ, WHO FACE UNIQUE CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH RACISM AND PREJUDICE. COVENANT HOUSE WELCOMES ALL YOUNG PEOPLE FACING HOMELESSNESS WITH UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND ABSOLUTE RESPECT AND PROVIDES THEM ACCESS TO A RANGE OF HEALTH AND WELL-BEING SERVICES THAT THEY CAN USE TO HEAL AND REDISCOVER THEIR POTENTIAL. OUR TRAUMA-INFORMED, RESILIENCE-FOCUSED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES RANGE FROM MEDICAL CARE AT OUR ON-SITE HEALTH CENTERS TO YOGA CLASSES, MUSIC LESSONS, COUNSELING, SPIRITUAL SERVICES, AS WELL AS SPORTS AND OTHER PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES. THROUGH THESE ACTIVITIES, YOUNG PEOPLE RETAKE CONTROL OVER THEIR LIVES, BUILD ON THEIR STRENGTHS, AND NOURISH THEIR SELF CONFIDENCE.COVENANT HOUSE NEW JERSEY TAKES PRIDE IN ITS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT WHICH PROVIDES AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE WITHIN A SAFE AND TRUSTING ENVIRONMENT SO OUR YOUTH CAN OVERCOME THE OBSTACLES THEY FACE. THROUGH EARLY INTERVENTION AND PERSONALIZED CARE, YOUTH ARE ABLE TO APPROACH THEIR TREATMENT WITH CONFIDENCE. CHNJ PROVIDES ON-SITE GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING AS WELL AS ACCESS TO A CONSULTING PSYCHIATRIC APN. THIS EXTRA LEVEL OF MENTAL HEALTHCARE, IN ADDITION TO MEDICAL CARE HELPS YOUTH MEET THEIR GOALS AND OVERCOME BARRIERS TO TREATMENT. IN FISCAL YEAR 2020, THERE WERE 106 ON-SITE MEDICAL VISITS AND 348 YOUTH ENGAGED IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.- DOVE LEARNING CENTER "DLC": YOUNG PEOPLE ARRIVE AT COVENANT HOUSE WITH DREAMS THAT HAVE BEEN DISRUPTED BY HOMELESSNESS. ONLY ABOUT 21% ARE ENROLLED IN SCHOOL AT THE TIME OF INTAKE. ADVANCING EDUCATIONALLY AND PREPARING FOR THE WORLD OF WORK ARE KEY TO A YOUNG PERSON'S PROSPECTS FOR LEAVING HOMELESSNESS BEHIND. EITHER DIRECTLY OR THROUGH REFERRAL, WE GUIDE YOUTH TO APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, MATCHING EACH YOUNG PERSON'S STRENGTHS AND ABILITIES WITH THEIR CAREER INTERESTS. WE HELP THEM HONE THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO JOIN THE WORKFORCE, BECOME INDEPENDENT, AND TURN THEIR BACK ON HOMELESSNESS.COVENANT HOUSE NEW JERSEY HAS ESTABLISHED AN INNOVATIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, CALLED THE DOVE LEARNING CENTER (DLC), TO FURTHER MOTIVATE YOUNG PEOPLE TO MEET THEIR GOALS. THE DLC USES A BLENDED LEARNING CURRICULUM THAT FOSTERS AUTONOMY, COMPETENCE AND RESILIENCE WITH A FOCUS ON FIVE SUBJECT AREAS: EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, SOCIAL COMPETENCES, FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND PHYSICAL WELLNESS. IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2020, 295 YOUTH ENGAGED IN ON-SITE JOB READINESS PROGRAMS WHERE 135 OBTAINED EMPLOYMENT AND 167 YOUTH ENROLLED IN SCHOOL AND 3 YOUTH OBTAINED A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR THEIR GED.

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