The Journey | Covenant House New Jersey

The journey to escape homelessness for good is unique to each young person.

The path is not the same for everyone. Some youth choose to walk with us for a short time. Others choose to stay with us for years, utilizing all of the services available to them as they move on.

The journey to a bright future is possible, but it does not happen overnight. It takes courage, persistence, patience, resilience and true grit. We salute our incredibly brave young people! You have our respect and our admiration. We love you!

To our caring and generous donors, who continue to make each child’s journey possible, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Outreach

Our Outreach Team works to develop relationships with youth on the streets, building trust, offering them assistance with basic necessities and inviting them to stay at one of our Crisis Centers in Newark or Atlantic City.

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Drop-in Centers

We provide services to youth walking in from the streets who are not ready for or in need of residential care in two locations in New Jersey. This includes our two Drop-In Centers located at our two Crisis Centers in Atlantic City and Newark. These facilities allow us to have a place in communities where youth homelessness is prevalent.

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Residential Crisis Centers

When a young person comes into one of our Residential Crisis Centers for help, we meet them where they are. We start with a smile, a kind word, a meal, a hot shower, clean clothes, and a bed where our kids can safely get some much-needed rest.

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Transitional Living

Rights of Passage Homes

For many of our young people, the Rights of Passage (ROP) program is the next step beyond Crisis Care for young men and women on their journey to independent living. While at ROP young people work to develop the skills and knowledge to live independently and make the transition to adulthood. Learn More

Nancy’s Place

For many homeless youth, mental illness poses an obstacle to their independence. We opened Nancy’s Place in Montclair for youth to address their mental health in a safe and supportive environment where they can learn the skills they need to live on their own. Learn More

Raphael’s Life House

Raphael's Life House is Covenant House New Jersey's Mother Child program, created to help homeless and pregnant young women secure a brighter, more stable future for themselves and their newborn babies.
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Independent Living

When our young people move out to properties that Covenant House New Jersey does not own, we consider them living independently. We are still there, for as long as they need us with Independent Living services helping them to succeed.

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Alumni

We know that a young person’s journey to success does not end when they leave Covenant House. We welcome our alumni back to participate in holiday celebrations, special events, and marketing campaigns.

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Meet Our Youth

Savanah’s Story

“All my friends looked like their parents…I didn’t have baby pictures, so I didn’t know who I looked like.”

Mike’s Story

At 31 years old, Mike has seen his share of injustice. Growing up in Atlantic City in a home with limited resources, dysfunction, and disruption, he landed in a juvenile justice facility at a young age due to selling drugs to have money to live.

Jeremiah’s Story

For months Jeremiah had lived with an unsupportive family member and worked a “going nowhere” job. He said coming to Covenant House New Jersey was the motivation he needed to get serious about his life.

Cornelius’s Story

I think I was fitted for this work. I know the fear and anger and bitterness and sadness being homeless and young can bring you. I know the heaviness of not knowing what’s going to happen next. But I also know that there is hope. That, with the right support, there is always hope.