HOUSTON – After Houston Mayor John Whitmire outlined his plan to reduce homelessness in the city Thursday, another organization is also bringing awareness about the issue.
For 13 years, the Covenant House has been holding a sleep out, an event where volunteers and business executives trade a night in their beds at home for a night on the streets to bring awareness to homelessness among youth. The event is also a fundraiser for the organization.
Hundreds of people walked the streets of Downtown Houston holding candles, all hoping to shine a light on the issue.
“We do address specifically 18-24-year-olds who are overcoming homelessness,” said Felicia Broussard, Chief Development Director at Covenant House. “What you saw was the community coming together in solidarity, showing their support for young people who we know are promising.”
Broussard was surrounded by executives from major corporations like Starbucks and Phillips 66, where Chief Economist Sean Maher team raised $90,000, all to help Covenant House meet their fundraising goal of $1 million.
“Homeless youth have to do this 365 days a year in all types of weather and this is the realest way to try to raise awareness and empathy for what they go through,” Maher said.
Maher gave up his bed for a spot on the cold ground outside the Ion building. Before that, he and the team loaded meals in vans to give to homeless people on the street.
The efforts have proved effective. 22-year-old Jalen Berry Washington used to be homeless before Covenant House helped get him on his feet.
“They provided a lot of resources like jobs and living situations,” Washington said.
He’s now able to support himself.
“I took my steps, you know, stepping stones, you know step after step and now I’m back on it,” he said.
The sleep out wraps up Friday morning at 7 a.m. For more about Covenant House, click here.
