Covenant House Survivors: CHM through a young volunteer's eyes

This article was written by Prashanth Ramakrishna, a young Country Day School student who has generously volunteers his time on an ongoing basis. He attended our February 13th open house and had this to say about it.

Charity. We all know about it, but most of us do minimal to help. But, there are those who have dedicated their life to the noble cause that we call “Charity.” Covenant House Michigan is one such place that is devoted to charity. I have had the good fortune to be able to participate in one of the events that Covenant House has coordinated. Visitors were offered the opportunity to tour the Covenant House campus. What I found most interesting was not the campus, but the residents. I came knowing that the kids at Covenant House had been through pretty rough times, but not once did they show it. Every time I saw them, they were smiling. They had started a new life, a new life in which bigger and better things were yet to come. Why live in the past when there is so much waiting in the future?

I waited in line for my turn to grasp the pen and write my name on the provided name-tag. I meticulously placed the name-tag on the left side of my chest and proceeded into the Training Room. As soon as I had taken my seat I, along with everyone else in the room, was introduced to two residents at Covenant House, Patricia and Kevin. Patricia, who had not seen her mother for fourteen years was finally reunited with her after joining Covenant House. She was also about to be reunited with her two brothers who had found her on Facebook that day. Both Kevin and Patricia had come from homelessness and were quickly making their way to a successful future. Covenant House is much more than just immediate help, it is a safe haven, an angel of guidance, it is a place where people can eat, sleep, and eventually succeed.

The tour was led by Kevin, and started at the Crisis Center. There are two wings in the Crisis Center, one for the males, which holds 30 people, and one for the females, which holds 15. I walked in through the door to the Crisis Center, held open by Kevin, and entered a small room. Within the room was a single chair, other than that it was empty. Kevin told us that that small room is where new comers make their decision to either stay or leave. They choose to continue on their current journey, or change their path to one of success. In that small room they are given a packet containing all the rules and regulations that they must live by if they wish to stay at Covenant House.

Once accepted into the Crisis Center they are expected to be ready each morning by seven o’clock, and are then able to complete their daily chores. Each wing is equipped with rooms and a lounge. I met Richard in the lounge of the male wing. He was sitting in a chair watching Scooby-Doo with ear buds in. Our guide patted him on the shoulder and did the strangest thing. She did not talk to him, she mouthed the words, “Say Hello,” to him. He stood up, took out his ear buds and waved, then quickly resumed his earlier actions. Then the most unexpected words came out of our guide’s mouth, “That’s Richard, as far as I know, he’s the first deaf resident we’ve had here at the Crisis Center.” The first thing that popped up in my head was how hard his life must have been living on the streets deaf. He was a survivor.
When people in the Crisis Center start school or have a job they are moved into another building called Rights of Passage that provides a place for people to live while they are employed. Here is where you truly recognize the progress that the people at Covenant House have made. The people here have gone from illiterate and on the street to being educated and in Covenant House, to employed, literate and at Covenant House. Soon until these people at Rights of Passage are housed and can support a family.

No one can be forced to succeed. No one can be forced to do what’s right. But if one has the will to succeed or the will to do what’s right then the future holds bright things for them. The kids that go through Covenant House had a choice, they could either stay on the streets, or they could be successful. They made their decision in the small room in front of the crisis center. They have the will to succeed, they have the will to do what’s right. Now look what the future holds……..