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About Sleep Out

The Sleep Out Movement is an opportunity for all of us to come together and make an immediate and lasting impact on the young people overcoming homeless at Covenant House.

The Sleep Out does include taking a sleeping bag into a parking lot, field, yard, or along a strip of sidewalk. But the Sleep Out is not about pretending to be homeless. It’s about showing young people unconditional love and absolute respect - proving that you care enough about them to be uncomfortable for one night, to be vulnerable for their sakes.

The funds raised by Sleep Out participants are put to work immediately, keeping the lights on and the doors open for the thousands of youth who will seek help this year. Our kids are changed by people who care, and their dreams become a little more reachable every time they hear, “You can do it. I believe in you.” The Sleep Out offers every participant the chance to be someone who cares.

How does Covenant House help?

Since 1989, Covenant House New Jersey has been providing food, shelter, immediate crisis care, and an array of other important services to homeless, runaway and trafficked youth between the ages of 18-21.

We provide a continuum of care through three core services: Street Outreach, Crisis Care, and Supportive Housing. These core services are comprised of a wide array of in-house programs, including food, shelter, healthcare, educational support, GED preparation, job readiness and skills training, legal services, mental health services, life skills training, and aftercare. These programs are designed to provide our youth with a holistic approach to leaving the streets and achieving independence.

Our residential facilities are located throughout New Jersey in Newark, Atlantic City, Montclair, and Elizabeth. We also provide outreach services in Asbury Park, Camden, and Jersey City. Today, there are 30 Covenant House locations in the USA, Canada, and Latin America. Together, we serve more than 51,000 homeless young people each year.

We are proud to be the nation’s largest privately funded agency serving homeless, runaway and at-risk youth. Our doors are open 24 hours a day for youth in need.

For more information about Covenant House New Jersey, please visit CovenantHouseNJ.org.