I’ll be trustworthy: once I first heard concerning the Covenant Home Sleep Out, I knew homelessness existed, however I knew shockingly little about why it occurs or what could possibly be achieved.

This will probably be my sixth Sleep Out — an evening spent exterior to lift cash for homeless youth.  And yearly, I be taught one thing new about myself, about privilege, and concerning the 4.2 million younger individuals who will expertise homelessness this yr.

The Night time That Opened My Eyes

My first Sleep Out in Houston began with an outreach to the native bus station. I watched a youngster, somebody who may have been my very own child, ask for a bottle of fresh water.

We walked straight to the gasoline station and acquired each bottle of water that they had.

That easy act introduced a stage of urgency I’d by no means felt earlier than. You may at all times say, “It’s too massive an issue for me to repair.” However that evening, I realized: one bottle of water may help. One evening in a secure place can change the course of a life.

What I Didn’t Know About Youth Homelessness

Listed below are three truths that shattered my misconceptions:

Fable #1: Younger individuals select to be homeless
Reality: They’re homeless as a result of the state of affairs they had been coming from was so unsafe that the road was a greater various.

Fable #2: Not all homeless youth are seen on the streets
Reality: Most are sofa browsing or in harmful conditions. You stroll previous them daily and by no means know.

Fable #3: “If they simply bought a job…”
Reality: 90% of younger individuals at Covenant Home had been employed throughout the final yr. However even with a job, younger individuals can’t afford hire in most cities.

Why This Issues Now

I requested Invoice Bedrossian, CEO of Covenant Home, why youth homelessness doesn’t make headlines. His reply: We don’t see these younger individuals. They’ve backpacks. They’re going to high school and work. They seem like everybody else, till they don’t have a spot to sleep that evening.

However I’m asking you to not look away.

The Sleep Out: I Hate It, and I Love It

Right here’s my pitch: It’s like greens. You don’t know till you attempt it.

You’ll hate it. You’ll be drained, chilly, uncomfortable. However you’ll find it irresistible, since you’ll notice: I made a distinction. After I get up that morning, I take into consideration how I get to take a bathe, go house to my mattress, not test the climate to plan the place I’ll sleep.

That’s the privilege we take without any consideration. The Sleep Out isn’t about pretending to be homeless. It’s about understanding, even for one evening, what it means to not have a secure place to sleep.

Staff Texas: $572,000 and Counting

Since 2016, Cisco’s Staff Texas has raised greater than $572,000 for Covenant Home. That cash helped construct a model new shelter in Houston, and this yr will probably be our first Sleep Out on the new location.

Right here’s what I’ve realized about fundraising: If my success price in gross sales was nearly as good as asking individuals to help this trigger, I’d be well-known. I’ve by no means had a pal or member of the family say no. Folks need to assist. They only have to know the way.

The Math Downside We Can Resolve

Invoice informed me: Homelessness is a math drawback. We don’t have sufficient housing. Prices have risen quicker than wages. Even younger individuals with jobs can’t afford hire.

However we are able to remedy math issues. Covenant Home works on three fronts:

• Prevention: Maintaining households along with help
• Intervention: Offering shelter, counseling, job coaching, schooling
• Restoration: Creating reasonably priced housing for working younger individuals

We will finish youth homelessness. However we are able to’t do it alone.

November twentieth: Be part of Us

Staff Texas is sleeping out at our new Houston shelter. Cisco is aiming for 500 sleepers throughout all cities and elevating $1.5 million. We’d like you. Be part of us in Houston, Philadelphia, Chicago, DC, New York, San Francisco, or certainly one of our different 17 places. Or sleep in your yard.

Simply do it.

The Second That Stays With Me

After that first outreach, I sat in a parking zone and thought: I don’t have to take a look at the climate tonight. I don’t should plan the place I’ll sleep. I simply get to go house. That security is one thing these younger individuals deserve too.

One evening. One bottle of water. One alternative. That’s all it takes to alter a life.

How one can Get Concerned:
Join: Covenant Home Sleep Out
Be part of Staff Texas or discover your native staff captain
Can’t sleep out in individual? Sleep in your yard and fundraise from house

Let’s present these younger individuals they’re not invisible. They matter.

See you on November twentieth.