Covenant House York will host a Sleep Out event to raise awareness for youth homelessness
This Friday, May 17 at 6 p.m., Covenant House, a nonprofit shelter in York for at-risk youth, is hosting an outdoor Sleep Out event for the first time in six years.
The Sleep Out, which was an annual event in the past, has not been in place since before the pandemic and in the midst of staffing shortages in the social work field.
During this event, volunteers and donors will be sleeping outside in the shelter courtyard for one night in solidarity to bring awareness and to fundraise for its sanctuary program.
Since 2016, the co-ed Sanctuary Program in York has been open 24/7 and has served the at-risk youth of the region with vital services that include basic needs such as shelter, food, clothing and showers, educational and vocational services, outreach, and case management.
Yamily Applewhite, program director for Covenant House York, said the shelter is faced with the critical challenge of ensuring that no young person is turned away in their time of need, especially as the number of youths seeking assistance continues to rise.
"Sleep out is a fundraising event and also an awareness event because not many people know we are here, and still helping homeless youth. It's small but it has a huge impact on the community," Applewhite said.
The program, which has 10 shelter beds, is designed to be a safe space with separate floors for those who identify as female, male and transgender.
The staff at Covenant House refers youth to additional local resources such as physical and mental health services, drug and alcohol counseling and legal services.
What will take place during the sleep out
The event will begin in the courtyard of Covenant House at 307 E. King St. in York at 5:45 p.m. The group will then walk to Continental Square for a vigil in memory of at-risk youth who have lost their lives.
The vigil will also remember a young woman who lived at Covenant House in York and lost her life last year.
After the vigil, the group of volunteers and donors involved in the Sleep Out will return to the courtyard, where Covenant House residents share about their journeys through homelessness, and sleepers can connect with one another. Food and sleeping bags will also be provided.
If you are interested in participating in the Sleep Out, email Applewhite at yapplewhite@covenanthousepa.org, as sleeping bags are limited. To donate, go to covenanthouse.org/homeless-shelters/york.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Covenant House York hots Sleep Out raise awareness for youth homeless
