Former president of Northeastern Illinois University Gloria Gibson is proud to serve on the board of Covenant House Illinois, a youth development center whose dedicated staff support young people experiencing homelessness. Throughout her career in higher education, Ms. Gibson has leveraged her position to advocate for young people, particularly students of color. She has maintained a longstanding focus on providing access and opportunities to all students and inspiring young people to recognize the power of higher education to change life trajectories.
Covenant House Illinois welcomes young people experiencing homelessness, with its team of dedicated staff providing a safe and caring environment and supporting service users in whatever capacity they need. Covenant House empowers youth, helping them to access vital services, be it on-site or via partnerships through other specialized youth service providers. Working closely with other agencies, Covenant House refers young people to other partners where necessary to ensure that no young person has to spend a night on the streets.
When a young person arrives at Covenant House, they are welcomed into this safe and supportive environment and provided with access to food, showers, personal storage, and laundry facilities. In addition to meeting their physical needs and providing a place to rest and relax, Covenant House also provides case management services and employment and educational support.
Visitors to Covenant House’s Youth Development Center do not need a referral, with all homeless and at-risk young people welcomed and supported. Covenant House’s residential program empowers young people through the provision of holistic, trauma-informed care, expertly curated to meet the unique needs and goals of each service user.
Through its residential program, Covenant House Illinois provides young people with case management services as well as trauma-informed wrap-around support. The organization’s clinical case managers support youth as they navigate and access community services, helping them to secure permanent housing that fits their needs and establish and work towards long-term goals.
Guided by the founding principles of immediacy, sanctuary, value communication, structure, and choice, Covenant House Illinois supports youth in overcoming incredible obstacles with courage and determination. The organization stands beside young people every step of the way, providing total respect, unconditional love, and unwavering support. With Covenant House’s help, young people are growing, healing and building bright futures for themselves.
At 22 years old, David had been through much more than most people his age. Growing up on Chicago’s Southside, life was not always easy. Like many of his peers, David got caught up in the environment around him. After losing his mother and spending time in jail, David found himself at a low point. He came to Covenant House in search of a fresh start.
Looking back, David says he immediately felt a sense of relief, with Covenant House giving him comfort and instilling hope. David attended a job training program with perfect attendance, with his experiences with Chicago Urban League helping him to build a comprehensive range of valuable soft and hard skills. Thanks to an entrepreneurship program, David discovered a passion for business, competing and winning a pitch competition. Today, he is the proud owner of his own enterprise, TNT Wraps, having used all of the resources available to him to turn his entrepreneurial dreams into reality.
Committed to increasing employment opportunities for the young people it serves, Covenant House Illinois provides access to workforce services and educational and occupational resources on-site. Through its long-standing partnerships with other agencies, the organization offers a comprehensive range of workforce training, job placement, and support services. Recognizing the ongoing perseverance and dedication required to establish a more stable life, Covenant House welcomes service users to its Youth Development Center as many times as they need, providing repeat services to enable and empower young people to plot and follow a course to a brighter future. Ms. Gibson’s goal is to work with fellow board members and the Covenant House Illinois staff to increase services and positively impact more young people in the future.