by Katie Vasquez
Under the bright lights and noise of Times Square, Jen Rivera is trying to sleep on the cold concrete of the “Crossroads of the World.”
“We got a sleeping bag, we got a blanket, we got a reflection journal, we got an eye mask because we are in the middle of Times Square which is very helpful,” Rivera said.
This is her first time not sleeping in her bed and while she knows she has a home to go to, she also has a close connection to homelessness.
“My mom is also here,” Rivera said. “She’s a little further down, so to be able to experience this with her as someone who did experience homelessness, this is just a really great bonding opportunity for us.”
Rivera is one of 400 people taking part in Covenant House’s 12th annual Sleep Out. From 10 p.m. Thursday night to 6 a.m. Friday morning, these people are sleeping in Times Square, like the dozens who camp here every night.
“I think it’s good for us to see just what they’re going through,” she said.
Covenant House hosts the Sleep Out to raise money and awareness for the city’s youth homeless population. The Franciscan founded nonprofit provides food and shelter for hundreds of young people living on the streets.
This year they decided to take their awareness event to the iconic intersection.
“It’s really powerful because so many of the young people we serve here in New York have literally slept on these streets, walked through these streets at night to stay warm,” said Covenant House President and CEO Bill Bedrossian.
It’s because of the Sleep Out participants that some of the people the Covenant House helps are not living on the streets anymore. Former Covenant House resident, Shamae Mayes, aged out of the foster system and found herself sleeping on the subway with her one-year-old son. Then she saw an ad for the nonprofit.
“I took it as a sign from God because what else could it be? I had no other options,” Mayes said. “And there it was. When I got to the Covenant House, they asked if I needed some type of prayer and I was given a rosary bead. And you know what? We prayed.”
She now lives in the same Bronx apartment that Covenant House helped her to find.
Covenant House is currently helping more than 400 homeless youth in New York City. Nationwide they are sheltering 2,000 people a night.
The organization aimed to raise $2 million dollars. As of now, it’s at $1.6 million but they are still getting donations and hope to meet their goal.
This was a global event with 6,000 people sleeping out in 5 countries and 17 cities. This includes Alaska to Canada, Guatemala, Mexico, and Honduras.
You can help Covenant House in their mission by going on their website: covenanthouse.org