We Are
Covenant House Michigan

WHERE WE SERVE AND WHAT GUIDES US

Covenant House Michigan (CHM) provides youth facing homelessness with shelter, educational and vocational programs. We build a bridge to hope for young people facing homelessness and survivors of trafficking through unconditional love, absolute respect and relentless support. Our doors are open 24/7 in Detroit and Grand Rapids with programs designed to empower young people to rise and overcome adversity, today and in the future.

MISSION

We who recognize God’s providence and fidelity to His people are dedicated to living out His covenant among ourselves and those children we serve, with absolute respect and unconditional love.

That commitment calls us to serve suffering children of the street, and to protect and safeguard all children. Just as Christ in His humanity is the visible sign of God’s presence among His people, so our efforts together in the covenant community are a visible sign that effects the presence of God, working through the Holy Spirit among ourselves and our kids.

VISION

Our vision is to help children and youth move from homelessness to hope.

Covenant House has a steadfast and unwavering commitment to build a bridge to hope for young people facing homelessness and survivors of trafficking.

Covenant House has always, and will continue to, fulfill its mission by providing housing and supportive services to children and youth facing homelessness and to those who are at risk of becoming unstably housed. In the spirit of open intake and inclusion, immediate sanctuary and trauma-informed services will be offered to all youth who seek help, with a priority of investment and commitment to those for whom no other service is available.

We will make every effort to reunite children and youth with their families when safe and possible and we will collaborate with community agencies and associations and actively participate in community efforts to improve the conditions of families and children.

As the largest, mostly privately-funded consolidated agency in the Americas providing housing, food, immediate crisis care, and an array of supportive services to children and youth facing homelessness, we will use our influence to advocate with, and on behalf of, youth to raise awareness in the community and work to end homelessness.

Covenant House will recognize our diverse community of youth, staff and supporters and will be equitable and inclusive in all of our practices and in the advancements of our mission.

OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Immediacy

We welcome all youth without judgement or conditions; meeting their immediate basic needs of food, clothing, medical attention, and a safe place to sleep, at no cost.

Sanctuary

We acknowledge the bravery it takes for young people to walk through our doors. We offer them a welcoming and safe environment based on absolute respect, unconditional love, and relentless support, where we believe in and encourage their resilience.

Value Communication

We value authentic relationships, honor the voice of our youth, and model caring relationships based on trust, respect, and honesty.

Structure

We provide stability and consistency for young people to pursue their great promise.

Choice

We honor that young people hold the power to their story. Through relentless engagement we foster confidence and encourage them to believe in themselves and make informed choices about their lives.

OPEN INTAKE AND INCLUSION

Open Intake is a fundamental, unifying principle of everything that we do at Covenant House. Stated simply, we welcome and accept with open arms every young person who comes to us. We have no admission criteria other than age and the agreement to abide by our basic rules and policies rooted in our 5 Principles.

It is the policy of Covenant House to provide Open Intake and Inclusion. Each Covenant House site shall provide services to youth 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in order to ensure that no youth in need is turned back to the street without some service. Our welcome process should be simple, direct and appropriate for our youth.

We recognize that safety or other legal requirements occasionally make it impossible to bring a young person into residence at a given time. In such instances, we must make every effort to find the youth an alternative place of temporary shelter, and in the interim, we must make every effort to meet the youth’s immediate needs.