CHNJ helps youth facing homelessness and human trafficking. We provide immediate shelter and care for youth age 18-21. We also provide an array of services to promote resilience to enable our clients to transition to independent living.

Homeless and trafficked youth suffer disproportionately from trauma, sexual and physical abuse, involvement in the foster care system, domestic violence, mental health challenges, and life on the street.

In recent years, increased attention has been drawn to the prevalence of trafficking among homeless youth. According to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM; formerly the Institute of Medicine), these U.S. citizens and residents are at particular risk of being trafficked domestically. Youth who are on the street or are not stably housed, are compelled to take risks to fulfill basic needs such as shelter, food, clothing, and a feeling of connection to others. With minimal to no resources and poor support networks, they are targets for exploitation. While trafficking is a form of severe exploitation, it can begin with an offer of help from a person who appears to care at a moment when a youth has nowhere else to turn.

To better address the problems of homeless and trafficked youth we serve, we have established CHART – Covenant House Action and Research Tank. CHART’s goal is to contribute effective, evidence-based, and client-centered program approaches to local and national dialogues about homelessness and trafficking. You can learn more about the work we’re doing at CHART by clicking here.

Age Groups	Children Adolescents Adults
Community Services	Basic Needs / Assistance Emergency Shelter / Housing / Warming Center Homeless Prevention Housing / Shelter Supportive Housing Community Community Education Employment / Training Life Skills Training Preparing for Adulthood Family & Support Services Case Management Family Support Parenting & Caregiving
Health Services	Crisis / Safety Crisis / Safety / Prevention Emergency Preparedness Trafficking
Areas Served	State-Wide

Last Updated: 05/12/24