Advocacy

By showing up and speaking out, we advocate for positive, long-term change for youth. The work that happens behind the scenes is powerful, visionary and collaborative. It is the foundation for broader social shifts and policy improvements.

Here are the ways Covenant House takes action and speaks out for the young people in our care.

Supporting every youth

Every young person who walks through our doors gets a team of support and a network they can count on. Whether it be helping them find their communities of choice, coordinate their immigration needs or determine education next steps, we are here to coach them through the process and connect them with options.

Collaborating with community

We work with municipal and community groups to advance a collective response to homelessness and sex trafficking. This helps ensure a cohesive and powerful support system for young people across our communities.

Influencing government policy

By collaborating with provincial, federal and international advisory committees and working groups, we provide front line expertise so that policy better reflects the needs of youth.

Informing and engaging the public

We couldn't do this work without a much wider community of supporters. It's your voice that helps push the agenda forward. By raising awareness through petitions and research, we help to ensure that every caring person can take action against homelessness and trafficking.

What we've achieved

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Bridged the gap

Helped extend support to youth leaving the child welfare system

Increased access

Ensured more youth at risk can receive essential services

Created a national movement

Collected 18,000 signatures for a national trafficking hotline

Extended support for youth leaving care

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In 2011, we advocated to extend the age of eligibility for youth in the foster care system.

Based on our research, we knew greater supports for this vulnerable group could significantly help youth in their transition to independence, preventing them from falling through the cracks and ending up homeless.

After two years of advocacy, the province announced in 2013 a series of changes to the child welfare system. This included extending support to youth, aged 21 to 25, leaving care, thereby improving their chances of success.

Increased access to services

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Based on our experience, we know that young people often endure abusive or neglectful situations until they believe they are old enough to fend for themselves.

But until 2016, youth aged 16 and 17 who were not previously involved with Children’s Aid Society could not access the help they needed, including receiving necessary guidance and financial support to live on their own or stay in school. This gap put these youth at a serious disadvantage.

We advocated on behalf of these youth, and in December of 2016, the province announced a long-awaited plan towards providing youth in this age group with critically needed help to prevent them from facing the risk of homelessness.

National trafficking hotline

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Until 2019, Canada was the only country in North America without a national hotline for sex trafficking victims. This put victims across the country at risk.

In 2017, we partnered with the Canadian Centre To End Human Trafficking to deliver to the Prime Minister a national petition, signed by more than 18,000 supporters, and a joint news release urging for action.

In May 2019, the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline was officially launched by the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking and we have helped promote it widely.

Sex trafficking is happening in communities across Canada. To learn more, visit Traffick Stop, our online resource to educate and raise awareness of this crime.