When Kaleab was experiencing homelessness, it was hard to find hope.
For weeks, he was camped out in Wellesley subway station foraging for food and relying on the kindness of strangers. Then, one day, he learned of Covenant House and was surprised to learn it was just a short walk from where he’d been sleeping.
“The first person I saw was a shelter worker named, Donald. As soon as he saw me, I felt like he understood the situation I was in,” Kaleab said. “I was wearing very dirty clothes, my glasses were broken. And he just welcomed me and said ‘You’re OK.’ That’s when I started crying.”
Donald brought Kaleab into the drop-in centre where he could have a meal, a shower and a new set of clean clothes. After he was able to wash and eat, Donald helped Kaleab find a place to stay for a few nights in a local church. Very soon, he was able to secure Kaleab a bed in our crisis shelter.
“He told me they’re going to support me with my education, housing, there is healthcare and food every day – breakfast, lunch, dinner,” Kaleab said. “I couldn’t believe how caring this place was.”
With help from his case manager, Jo, Kaleab quickly connected with the on-site high school to continue his education and he used our employment services to improve his resume, which led him to find work as a butcher.
Eventually Kaleab was stable enough that he enrolled in college for computer programming and is now living in the community thanks to support from Covenant House.
Today, Kaleab works as a peer support worker, helping youth connect with Covenant House and community services and, most importantly, being the living example that it’s possible to get through the difficult challenges they’re facing.
“When I start supporting them, I tell them ‘I have experienced the same thing. It’s OK not to be OK because I felt the same way. I lost many things. But I gained many things here.”
He can see the appreciation in their eyes when they hear this.
“It gives them hope.”