Issue link: https://tmcpulse.uberflip.com/i/1152989
28 t m c » p u l s e | a u g u s t 2 0 1 9 O ne of the only constants in his life—his cell phone, his lifeline to the world— was interrupted when Marquis landed at Covenant House Texas in Houston after the July Fourth weekend. "There's no Wi-Fi," the newly minted 18-year-old said, a flash of uncertainty in his eyes. Marquis spent the last few years in foster care, but aged out in July. He woke up after the holiday at his aunt's house—his final morning of the visit. After three beef breakfast burritos and an orange juice at Taco Cabana, his aunt delivered Marquis to his uncle, who brought him to Covenant House. The teen arrived with only a few bags of clothes. He would have shelter for the night. Maybe longer. His foster care advocate hoped Covenant House could offer him a new beginning. Marquis, who didn't want his last name published, wasn't so sure. "I was not ready to come here," said Marquis, who had to place his belongings in a "hot box" upon arrival to zap potential bed bugs. Standard procedure. Covenant House Texas, the largest youth emergency shelter in Harris County, serves young adults ages 18 to 24 in immediate need of safety, sanctuary and support services. The campus is tucked into a city block in Houston's Montrose neighborhood. A daily lottery determines who will sleep in the shelter's 20 emergency beds each night. Safe Haven, a short-term residential program, has a two-month waiting list, while Rites of Passage, a longer-term transitional living dormitory with two people to each room, is at capacity. More beds are desperately needed. The campus needs additional safe spaces for all the young people it serves, including teens who have survived trafficking and growing numbers of LGBTQ homeless youth. The organization has launched a capital campaign—Building for Life, Homelessness to Hope—that aims to raise about $25 million over the next three to five years, Executive Director Leslie Bourne said. In July, Covenant House Texas purchased an office building across the street, on Lovett Boulevard, for $3.75 million. The structure will be a key component of a campus reconstruction and expansion project. The wireless internet upgrade is just the tip of the iceberg. Trauma-informed care Limited space leads to soul-crushing choices. After the 20 emergency beds per night are assigned, those who don't get shelter can access a bus pass to search elsewhere for overnight housing. To bring attention to this daily crisis, Texas Medical Center President and CEO William "Bill" Covenant House Texas Expanding Services Capital campaign will allow nonprofit to serve more young adults facing homelessness and hardship B y C i n d y G e o r g e Marquis, left, and Xavior arrive at Covenant House Texas in Houston. McKeon will oversee Covenant House Texas' largest annual fundraiser on Nov. 21. As honorary chair of the 2019 Sleep Out: Executive Edition, McKeon hopes to raise $1 million by seeking the commitment of Houston business leaders—many of whom will spend the night outside to more closely connect with the reality of homelessness. "We're here to draw awareness to some- thing we drive by every day and don't see," McKeon said during a spring luncheon with young adults on campus, noting that youth aren't top-of-mind for many people who think about or encounter the homeless. Covenant House Texas is part of a New York City-based international nonprofit with three dozen locations in North and Central America that serve homeless and trafficked youth. The organization delivers trauma-informed care—a framework for services that helps indi- viduals gain power and control over their lives as they work toward employment, education and self-sufficiency, said Victor Hay, director of program and community services at Covenant House Texas. Engaging youth The youth engagement center on the Houston campus bustles with activity on a recent after- noon. In the laundry room, washers agitate and dryers tumble. A television blares just beyond the lockers and youth speak with caseworkers in small offices nearby. A young woman naps while her toddler snoozes in a stroller. Others hang out and literally chill out, taking a break from the 90-degree heat outside.