Honoring and recognizing Covenant House Pennsylvania on the occasion of its 25th Anniversary Celebration and commending the organization for its commitment to serving young people experiencing homelessness, trafficking, and instability across the City of Philadelphia

WHEREAS, Covenant House Pennsylvania was founded in 1999 with the mission of providing shelter, safety, hope, and opportunity to young people experiencing homelessness, human trafficking, and related forms of instability and its Safe Haven emergency shelter for youth opening in 2000; and

WHEREAS, Covenant House has operated with a steadfast commitment to offering trauma -informed, youth-centered services grounded in unconditional love, absolute respect, and

relentless support; and

WHEREAS, Since opening its doors, Covenant House has served more than 57,000 young

people throughout the City of Philadelphia, providing not only emergency shelter, but also

comprehensive support services designed to foster long -term independence and stability; and

WHEREAS, Covenant House continuum of care includes 24 -hour crisis response services,

emergency shelter, transitional and supportive housing, healthcare, mental health services, education and workforce development, case management, and other critical resources that ensure vulnerable youth are treated with dignity and compassion; and

WHEREAS, During the 2023-2024 school year, 10,705 children and youth in Philadelphia were identified as experiencing homelessness, representing a 28 percent increase since 2022 and an 86 percent increase over the past five years, underscoring the urgent and growing need for coordinated, compassionate, and effective responses to youth homelessness; and

WHEREAS, Through its comprehensive continuum of care, Covenant House Pennsylvania continues to play a critical role in addressing and preventing youth homelessness by providing young people with the shelter, support, stability, and opportunities needed to build independent and hopeful futures; and

WHEREAS, The organization has become an essential safety net for young people across

Philadelphia, responding to the urgent and growing challenges of youth homelessness and

exploitation with evidence -based, culturally competent, and trauma -informed care; and

WHEREAS, In 2026, Covenant House proudly celebrates “25 Years of Building Bridges to

Hope,” commemorating a quarter -century of transformative impact and reaffirming its

dedication to empowering young people to overcome adversity and build brighter futures; and

WHEREAS, As part of this milestone celebration, Covenant House is launching its 25th

Anniversary Campaign, an initiative designed to honor its legacy of service while mobilizing

community support to strengthen and expand resources for future generations of young people in need; and

WHEREAS, The City recognizes the profound contributions Covenant House Pennsylvania has made to the wellbeing of the City’s youth and applauds its continued leadership in advancing compassionate, equitable, and life -changing services for some of Philadelphia’s most vulnerable residents; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby honors

and recognizes Covenant House Pennsylvania on the occasion of its 25th Anniversary

Celebration and extends sincere gratitude for its enduring service and commitment to the young

people of Philadelphia; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this Resolution be presented to Covenant

House Pennsylvania as evidence of the sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body.

End