Resolution 260631

..Title Honoring and recognizing Covenant House Pennsylvania on the occasion of its 25th Anniversary Celebration and commending the organization for its commitment to serving young people experiencing homelessness, trafficking, and instability across the City of Philadelphia ..Body WHEREAS, Covenant House Pennsylvania was founded in 1999 with the mission of providing shelter, safety, hope, and opportunity to young people experiencing homelessness, human trafficking, and related forms of instability and its Safe Haven emergency shelter for youth opening in 2000; and WHEREAS, Covenant House has operated with a steadfast commitment to offering trauma -informed, youth-centered services grounded in unconditional love, absolute respect, and relentless support; and WHEREAS, Since opening its doors, Covenant House has served more than 57,000 young people throughout the City of Philadelphia, providing not only emergency shelter, but also comprehensive support services designed to foster long -term independence and stability; and WHEREAS, Covenant House continuum of care includes 24 -hour crisis response services, emergency shelter, transitional and supportive housing, healthcare, mental health services, education and workforce development, case management, and other critical resources that ensure vulnerable youth are treated with dignity and compassion; and WHEREAS, During the 2023-2024 school year, 10,705 children and youth in Philadelphia were identified as experiencing homelessness, representing a 28 percent increase since 2022 and an 86 percent increase over the past five years, underscoring the urgent and growing need for coordinated, compassionate, and effective responses to youth homelessness; and WHEREAS, Through its comprehensive continuum of care, Covenant House Pennsylvania continues to play a critical role in addressing and preventing youth homelessness by providing young people with the shelter, support, stability, and opportunities needed to build independent and hopeful futures; and WHEREAS, The organization has become an essential safety net for young people across Philadelphia, responding to the urgent and growing challenges of youth homelessness and exploitation with evidence -based, culturally competent, and trauma -informed care; and WHEREAS, In 2026, Covenant House proudly celebrates "25 Years of Building Bridges to Hope," commemorating a quarter -century of transformative impact and reaffirming its dedication to empowering young people to overcome adversity and build brighter futures; and WHEREAS, As part of this milestone celebration, Covenant House is launching its 25th Anniversary Campaign, an initiative designed to honor its legacy of service while mobilizing community support to strengthen and expand resources for future generations of young people in need; and WHEREAS, The City recognizes the profound contributions Covenant House Pennsylvania has made to the wellbeing of the City's youth and applauds its continued leadership in advancing compassionate, equitable, and life -changing services for some of Philadelphia's most vulnerable residents; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby honors and recognizes Covenant House Pennsylvania on the occasion of its 25th Anniversary Celebration and extends sincere gratitude for its enduring service and commitment to the young people of Philadelphia; and FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this Resolution be presented to Covenant House Pennsylvania as evidence of the sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body. ..End