Nichale

A few weeks before the gala, Nichale, one of CHM’s first residents, visited campus. “I was in town for a funeral and wanted to visit my second family!” she exclaimed. Nichale shared her life experiences of being homeless and what changes have happened since she left Covenant House. She also spoke about how much the campus had changed since she left. “The Crisis Center used to be where we’re standing right now,” she explained. “There used to only be a few beds and as more kids came in, the staff would just try to make them a bed wherever they could.”

After talking with Nichale, Mr. Joseph felt that there would be no one better to speak at our 10 Year Gala then a past resident who lived at Covenant House and transformed her life. The night of the Gala, Nichale shared her gratitude to the attendees.

“I would like to say to the people of Covenant House, thank you for showing me that someone cared for me. Thank you for your love, and giving me hope, understanding and the encouragement to change my life.”
In 1999 Nichale’s foster parents passed away and she was left homeless and on the streets. “I went from a warm bed to the cold of the night sleeping in cars and wherever I could find a place to rest,” she explained. She stayed with people who were selling and abusing drugs and even people who were prostituting themselves. “These people did not care about their lives or anyone else’s and it really scared me,” she recalled. “I was embarrassed and would not tell anyone I was homeless.”

Nichale was tired of wandering endlessly until one day she met some people from Covenant House. “Stephanie and Danny pulled up in the outreach van and began talking to me. They told me that God loves me and cares for me and that they too cared about me.” Nichale was taken to Covenant House where she was given a place to live and learned how to take care of herself and stand on her own feet.
“So today, I want to thank them for that and for allowing me to come here and speak to you today. I also want to tell you how the help of so many loving people changed my life.”

Nichale currently lives in Georgia with her husband and two beautiful children. She received her Associate’s Degree and works as a respiratory therapist. She is currently attending college to obtain her Bachelor's Degree in Respiratory Therapy.

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