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November 17, 2006 -- ADVOCATES DECLARE WAR ON YOUTH HOMELESSNESS AT THE COVENANT HOUSE INTERNATIONAL CANDLELIGHT VIGIL
 Advocates for homeless and runaway youth, along with hundreds of young people rescued from the streets, gathered in Times Square and 17 other cities in the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua to declare a war on youth homelessness at the Covenant House International Candlelight Vigil on November 16th.
“In the year 2006, thousands of our children are living and dying on the streets of our cities,” said Sister Patricia A. Cruise, President of Covenant House. “Most of these young people are victims of social decay and family disintegration, caught up in a desperate struggle for survival. We must reach these children before they become victims of the violent street war being waged every night in our cities.” The Covenant House International Candlelight Vigil coincided with National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week (November 12-18), and brought together thousands of supporters to create greater awareness for the plight of homeless young people. “Tonight I want to declare a war on youth homelessness,” said New York City Council Member Lewis Fidler from a windswept podium in Times Square. “Right now we are working on an initiative that would dramatically reduce the number of homeless youth in New York City over the next three years. Our young people deserve no less… this last line is a guess, real quote from Fidler to be added Thursday evening post-vigil “Each year more and more young people are on our streets seeking shelter,” said Bruce Henry, Executive Director of Covenant House New York. “In our New York program alone, we are sheltering more than 280 kids each night. Tonight, by coming together with our City Council Members and acknowledging that we must work together in order to serve better, we are making real progress towards helping not only the young people at Covenant House, but all the young people in our city.” At Vigils across the country and throughout Latin America, Covenant House residents courageously spoke about their pasts and shared their dreams for the future. “I was very close to my mother, but after she passed away I lost everything in my life,” said Covenant House resident David Joseph. “I lost the motivation to attend school, to work, and basically to live. I became homeless, and took shelter in train stations, subway cars, and abandoned buildings. “One day in Penn Station, a woman came up to me and politely mentioned a shelter called Covenant House. She told me they would take me in, no questions asked, and help me get back on my feet. Let me tell you, she was right,” said David. “Covenant House provided me a unique opportunity to receive support, employment, and eventually housing. I was able to find a job in just three weeks. Right now, I taking my reading and math tests so I can enroll in college and begin my new future.” “To David, and to all our young people here tonight and at Vigils around the world, I want to say thank you,” said Sister Patricia Cruise. “Thank you for your goodness, your bravery and your spirit. Thank you for not giving up against incredible odds. And thank you for letting us share in your lives, your dreams, your pain, and your triumphs. “We ask the young people who come to Covenant House to forget their past histories of abuse and neglect and to dream of new possibilities,” said Sister Patricia. “Starting with this International Candlelight Vigil, we should ask the same of ourselves. “Let’s dream of new possibilities, new ways to help our kids. Let’s pool our resources, our knowledge, our compassion. Let’s be bold and dream of a world where no child is forced to life on the street as their only option.”
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