Covenant House California

Mission Statement

Covenant House is dedicated to serving all of God’s children with absolute respect and unconditional love… to help youth experiencing homelessness … and to protect and safeguard all youth in need.

Background Statement

CHC was established in 1988 when a few dedicated volunteers began serving youth experiencing homelessness in Hollywood, providing food, services, and unconditional love. They began engaging youth living on the streets to give them a sense of being valued and connecting them with a network of community resources with the goal of helping them move into stable housing situations. Today, CHC serves more than 2,100 youth in six counties state-wide (Orange, Los Angeles, Alameda, Santa Clara & Santa Cruz), with additional locations opening in the coming months.

Impact Statement

Covenant House Orange County served more than 200 young people experiencing homeless in fiscal year 2024 with 12,487 nights of care and 27,543 meals served.

Needs Statement

This program is needed because CHC’s Orange County shelter for young people is all that exists. Because youth homelessness in the area continues to rise - the Homeless Services Network reported that Orange County, California, has around 6,700 youth experiencing homelessness or housing instability as of February 2024 – there is a growing waiting list for shelter at CHC’s facility. Our current wait list is more than 200 young people long. The young people on that waitlist need all possible stabilizing supports, goods, and services to minimize the chances that they will experience crime victimization, that they will be engaged in healthy activities, and that everything that can be done to usher young people from homelessness to stable destinations will be done.

Geographic Areas Served

Covenant House Orange County serves young people between the ages of 18 - 24 throughout the County, and is located in Anaheim.

Top Three Populations Served

Latinos
African Americans
Homeless Individuals

Statement from the CEO/Executive Director

Providing a safe place for young people experiencing homelessness in Orange County has been a labor of love to see it come to fruition. By collaborating with community leaders, existing providers, long-term supporters of Covenant House, and the City of Anaheim, we were finally able to open the first housing programs, specifically tailored to the unique needs of Transitional Aged Youth (TAY) in Orange County (Anaheim). We are thrilled to offer 65 housing placements for young people who would otherwise be sleeping on the street, or in other unsafe circumstances. With an extensive waiting list for youth who don't have a safe place to sleep, we know there is so much more to do! All housing that CHC provides, is accompanied by an array of supportive services, such as; case management, health and mental health support, independent living skills training, and education and employment support. Through our staff, alumni, volunteers, donors, corporations, and many other stakeholders invested in our mission, we create a community of support and compassion, that enable young people to thrive and achieve permanent independence. We can’t wait to do more with the community of Orange to ensure that every young person experiencing homelessness has a safe place to sleep, nutritious meals to eat, and are treated with absolute respect and unconditional love! Ami Rowland, Chief Program Officer

Statement from the Board Chair/President

Covenant House California is pleased to be part of the solution in ending youth homelessness in Orange County, keeping young people safe, and moving them towards a stable and purpose-driven lives. During a time when we have seen unprecedented heartache, we have also experienced unexpected favor and an outpouring of support that has not only confirmed what a special community we are a part of but has also been the source of encouragement and love for our youth and staff. In the past few years, many other homeless housing programs have closed their doors forever. The overwhelming number of youth on the streets (and it is historic) is palpable. We have quickly become the last hope for young people with no other place to turn. Like you, our young people crave stability and normalcy that many of them have never experienced — without a loving support system. Our job is to step in on the cycle of homelessness, trauma and poverty, and prevent young people from ever getting to the point at which they are labelled ‘chronically’ homeless. We are honored to contribute our 35 years of experience to Orange County, and work together in ending youth homelessness for good! Covenant House California specializes in serving youth in an inclusive, supportive, culturally relevant manner and will continue to leverage an increasing network of community stakeholders in each community it serves. We are grateful for the opportunity to be a light for young people in Orange County who have never had the luxury of living in a healthy family, being treated with absolute respect, or loved unconditionally. Michael Kibler, Board Chair

CEO/Executive Director

Fred Ali

CEO/Executive Director Experience

For over 40 years, Fred Ali held senior leadership positions with nonprofit, philanthropic, and educational organizations, and in government. In 2021, he retired as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Weingart Foundation, where he served for 21 years. Prior to his work at the Foundation, Fred was the founding Executive Director of Covenant House California, as well as Covenant House Alaska. Fred is currently serving as a consultant and strategic advisor on projects and initiatives focused on advancing racial equity and justice, as well as organizational effectiveness. He also maintains an executive coaching and mentoring practice, and has written and spoken extensively on issues pertaining to the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors, and executive leadership and management. Fred also chairs the Board of Catalyst California.