Germantown shelter aims to help troubled teens and young adults

Located at 31 East Armat St., Covenant House has been an outlet for troubled teenagers and young adults with nowhere to turn since 2001.

When an individual walks through the doors of the Covenant House for crisis-center assistance, there are no questions asked. They are offered a meal, a shower, a fresh set of clothing and a safe place to sleep.

“We try to accommodate any young person that comes our way,” special events manager Aileen Callahan said.

Staff members aim to provide structure and a stable environment while helping with finding employment, education and job training.

“Once an occupant gets a job Covenant House takes 70 percent of their paycheck and sets up a savings account for them so they can have money once they leave the house,” Callahan said. “It teaches them the importance of saving money.”

Donation dependent

Covenant House does not receive federal money. Rather, the majority of funding comes from donations and fundraisers held throughout the year. The organization recently raised close to $300,000 through “A Night of Broadway Stars,” a star-studded event held at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in May.

In addition to dedicated staffers who works inside the Covenant House, the organization also has an outreach team which canvasses streets day and night in search of homeless youth to connect with and offer assistance.

They hope to develop trusting relationships with the individuals, improving their lives one young person at a time.

Monet Tucker and Shanise Redmon are students at Temple University. Philadelphia Neighborhoods, a NewsWorks content partner, is an initiative of the Temple Multimedia Urban Reporting Lab.