Our Outreach Team travels into NJ communities to directly develop relationships with youth on the streets, building trust, offering them assistance with basic necessities and inviting them to our shelters. The team also works with community partners via Neighborhood Outreach (KNOT) to identify youth facing homelessness.
Outreach via KNOT (Neighborhood Outreach Team)
CHNJ is also focused on reaching more youth who are facing homelessness. In keeping up with the changing times, including the impact from COVID, we knew that we had to increase our technological capabilities to reach more youth. To do so, we created the KNOT, the Neighborhood Outreach Team via a SMS platform. CHNJ is the first agency to pilot a SMS platform where youth and providers can reach us via text 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Using any smart device, you can access our website and begin messaging with a caring professional at CHNJ. The platform is also available using Facebook.
The platform includes knowledge articles that can assist any employee new or old to find quick answers to text inquiries at their fingertips.
With the KNOT, we are able to build a directory of partners (schools, churches, hospitals, police, etc.) and send emails to some or all when there are beds available. The goal is to turn these community partners who know youth that are facing homelessness from referral sources to a functioning member of the Neighborhood Outreach Team.
To learn more about how you can partner in our Neighborhood Outreach, email us at KNOT@CovenantHouse.org.
Outreach via Travel to NJ Communities
Our Outreach team is on the streets, in schools, transportation centers reaching out to youth in crisis. Our goal is to reach them before they become victims of human trafficking, drug dealers, gangs or hopelessness.
Our specially trained outreach team finds and connects with at-risk youth, ensuring they know we are here to help, and providing them with food, counseling, and assistance, and information on our programs.
Our Team focus on homeless youth under the age of 22 and any former residents who are back in an unsafe living situation. We never give up on our young people. Our Outreach Teams operate out of our Crisis Centers and Drop In Centers.
School and Agency Outreach
Our Outreach Team maintains relationships with dozens of social service partners and schools throughout New Jersey directly and through the KNOT. We attend community meetings/forums and also work with high school social workers to help identify at-risk youth facing homelessness.
Our staff is available to address community organizations, school assemblies, and church groups, as we continue to spread the word, and help prevent more youth from ending up on the street.
Knowing the dangers of the street, our number one goal is to get the youth we meet to safety. Then we can begin the healing process, the counseling, and the critical case management. Together with our community partners, we can provide and connect them with all of the services they need to turn their lives around.
Resources We Provide
- Sandwiches, snacks, and water
- Hygiene supplies
- Access to a shower and a fresh set of clothes
- Blankets
- Counseling as the youth try to heal, and figure out what’s next
- Bus tokens to jobs and other community services
- And an “open door” to one of our Crisis Centers
