Youth Homeless Shelter Expands After Increases in Demand
Covenant House Georgia in Southwest Atlanta has long provided shelter to homeless youth.
But recent demand has far outpaced the non-profit’s ability to house those in need.
The center has 15 beds. Each night, those are full, says executive director Allison Ashe.
“Almost every night we have at least 25 kids in the shelter,” she says. “That’s 15 in beds and 10 more sleeping on mats in our lounges and our hallways.”
An average of 140 boys and girls are turned away each night.
Covenant will soon move to a new, seven-acre facility at Marietta Street and Johnson Road, just northwest of downtown Atlanta.
Ashe says that will more than quadruple current capacity. But at a cost. Covenant is in the middle of a $4.1 million dollar capital campaign to help with staffing and other growth issues.
(On Thursday, Covenant House International President Kevin Ryan and Tina Kelley will be in Atlanta to read from their book, entitled Almost Home: Helping Kids Move from Homelessness to Hope.)
9(MDAxODM0MDY4MDEyMTY4NDA3MzI3YjkzMw004))
Top Stories
