FBI
30 years experience serving Philadelphia & South Jersey
Frank Fioravanti Termite Specialist 215-768-1804 FrankieBugs707@gmail.com
Real People Real Stories
“We Rid Your Pests So You Can Rest”
Pest Control Frankie Bugs, He’s the Best!
MICHAEL GIANGIORDANO A Sleep Out Helps Homeless Kids get Back on their Feet Realtor
HARRY ALESSI
2839 S 13th Street Philadelphia, Pa. 19148 Office 267.668.2020 | Cell 609.636.9783 HARRYSELLSPHILLY @ GMAIL . COM
Superior Physical Therapy delivers the highest level of professional care in a compassionate and friendly environment. 2547 S. Broad St., Phildelphia, PA 19148 Phone: (215) 462-3303 | Fax: (215) 462-3304
36
Y
by Anthony Panvini
outh homelessness is an ongoing issue in America that is often overlooked. According to Ncsl.org, on any given night, approximately 41,000 unaccompanied youth ages 13-25 experience homelessness. While there are many factors that can lead to youth homelessness, one thing that remains constant is the need to get kids off the street. Covenant House, an organization with locations across the U.S., aims to help young people facing homelessness in several ways. “They provide education assistance and work experience. They help the youth if they need to finish their degree or high school, or want to go to college,” explains Michael Giangiordano, a South Philadelphia resident who has volunteered with the organization for about five years. “They even have health services such as on-site medical care and mental health care.” They offer meals, a clean bed, on-site medical care, trafficking survivor services and transportation assistance, as well. A main goal of Covenant House is to build a sense of trust with youth and help them get back on their feet and off the streets for good. “I met some of the youth and a lot of those kids don’t want to go to other homeless shelters because there are a lot of older people. They want to be around people they can trust,” Giangiordano said. “A lot of them have trust issues because the people who are supposed to be the most important to them in their lives are not that secure. Covenant House builds a trust with them.” Covenant House organizes an annual event called Sleep Out which is designed to raise
| ROWHOME MAGAZINE | April / May / June 2021
funds and awareness for youth homelessness. To date, Sleep Out has provided 4,000 youth with stable housing, 1,600 with employment and 720,000 nights of shelter. This is Giangiordano’s fifth year sleeping on the streets. His night starts off with a few presentations about Covenant House and the services it provides. Some of the program’s young clients also share their stories. Around 11 pm, Sleep Out volunteers head outside to sleep on the streets. All they get to take with them are a box and a sleeping bag. “The first year I did it wasn’t too cold, but you have a lot on your mind and it can be tough to sleep,” Giangiordano said. “Staff wakes you up around 6 or 7 am. You have breakfast and a reflection, then you go home. I was able to go home to a bed, but these kids can’t do that. Just imagine being on the street, having to go to school, having to do homework, not getting a good night’s sleep, being worried about where you are going to go the next night.” Giangiordano and his family also provide scholarships to some of the youth who express interest in going to college – to help them with books or a computer if needed. After years of volunteering with this group, Giangiordano praises Covenant House and the work they do. “They really do great work; and they are a pretty special organization,” he said. “They care about the kids. They care about helping them find their way and make themselves members of society in doing what they want to do.” To learn more about Philadelphia’s Covenant House or find a Sleep Out to join, visit www.covenanthouse.org. PRH gohomephilly.com
