Gerald Piro is the Executive Director of Covenant House Michigan. Covenant House is a homeless shelter for 18 to 24 year olds located on MLK Blvd at I-96 in Detroit. It has 75 beds available and Mr. Piro described it as not just a shelter, but a program.
When a person enters the facility...
...a case manager conducts a fact finder, recovers birth certificates if necessary and assists with any criminal justice issues. Classes are offered which the residents must attend when not working, which include: dealing with grief and loss, how to budget, and developing a resume. They also offer psychological services, an employment center, a clothing closet, and a nurse on-site.
A few of the ways that these young adults became homeless include the family losing their home and going in different directions, mental illness, and an overworked foster care system that they have aged out of. The Covenant House’s outreach team goes to areas where the young adults tend to hang out to make sure they are aware of the facility and provide them with business cards.
Covenant House has four alternative schools. Residents can stay up to 90 days on an emergency basis and up to 2 years if they have a job. One of the areas that Mr. Piro was especially proud was in the area of job placement.
To learn more, please visit: www.covenanthousemi.org.