Youth Homelessness in NYC
In New York City, young people can get special help for youth until what age?
A) 18
B) 24
C) 26
B) 24
What phone number can families call in NYC to get help with food, housing, and other non-emergency help?
A) 911
B) 988
C) 311
D) 411
C) 311
What is homelessness?
A) When someone lives in a shelter.
B) Someone lacking a safe, stable place to live
C) When someone lives on the street or outside.
B) Someone lacking a safe, stable place to live
Where do many young people without a home stay?
A) Outdoors or on the street
B) Emergency shelters only
C) With friends, relatives, or temporarily doubled up
C) With friends, relatives, or temporarily doubled up
How many hours a day and days a week is Covenant House open?
24 hours a day, 7 days a week (365 days a year!)
1 in ___ NYC public school students experienced homelessness at some point during the 2024-2025 school year
1 in 7
If someone goes to a job program, what is something they might learn?
They might learn how to find a job, job training, how to write a resume, and learn how to get interviewed
What is a shelter?
A) A place providing food and a place to sleep for a person experiencing homelessness.
B) A place to hide
C) Any place that someone sleeps
A) A place providing food and a place to sleep for a person experiencing homelessness.
Most homeless youth live alone on the streets. True or false?
That statement is false. Many homeless youth stay with friends or in shelters.
Which places in NYC have Covenant House Shelters
A) Manhattan and Queens
B) Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx
C) Manhattan and the Bronx
C) Manhattan and the Bronx
Children always live in shelters close to their school. True or False?
False. 40% of students have to travel far distances (between boroughs) to get to school while living in a shelter.
Do you have to be from the United States to get homelessness help here?
A) Yes, only people born in the US can receive help here.
B) No, anyone can receive help. It does not matter what country you are from.
C) No, but you have to be a US citizen.
B) No, anyone can receive help. It does not matter what country you are from.
Being homeless does not make school more difficult. True or False?
False. Students who are experiencing homelessness tend to miss more days of school and get lower test scores.
It is hard to focus on school when you do no have a safe or stable place to stay.
How many children in NYC experienced homelessness at some point while going to school last year?
A) 5,634
B) 34,393
C) 156,000
D) 2,500
C) 156,000
68% of people living in NYC shelters last year were a part of a homeless family. In November 2025, 34,393 children lived in a shelter in NYC.
What other country does Covenant House have shelters in?
A) Venezuela
B) Guatemala
C) None. Covenant House is only in the US
D) Brazil
B) Guatemala
Covenant House also has programs in Mexico, Canada, and Honduras
How many days of school can a student miss before it becomes a problem?
A) 10 days
B) 4 days
C) 15 days
A) 10 days
After a student misses 10 days, their parents will be called and the school counselor will meet with the student.
Can a young person get help for homelessness during the day?
A) No, shelters are only open at night.
B) Yes, they can go to place that will give them a meal, a shower, and help them find a place to stay.
C) Yes, but they have to wait a very long time.
B) Yes, they can go to place that will give them a meal, a shower, and help them find a place to stay.
This is called a youth drop-in center
If someone says that a family cannot rent an apartment because of the country they are from, is that okay?
No. Fair housing law in NYC makes it illegal for landlords to refuse tenants because of race, religion, gender, disability, or family status.
Young people are only homeless because they ran away. True or False?
False. Young people can be homeless for a number of reasons, including running away, overcrowding at home, or getting kicked out. There are many reasons.
What can you do at Covenant House?
A) see a doctor
B) get help finding a job
C) take classes
D) all of the above
D) At Covenant House, youth can do all of those things + more
Which NYC city employee can visit homes or buildings to check for problems like no heat or broken elevators?
A) Teachers
B) Police officers
C) Housing inspectors
D) Bus drivers
C) Housing inspectors
Mia is homeless and needs help buying pencils for school. Who can help her?
A. School counselor or social worker
B. Shelter security staff
C. Classroom teacher only
D. Attendance officer
A. School counselor or social worker
Is it dangerous for too many people to live in the same house?
A) Yes, if too many people live in a house it can be unsafe, especially in an emergency
B) No, if it is your house, you can have as many people living there as you want
A) Yes.
11% of families living in shelters are there because their homes are overcrowded. This means that too many people live there for it to be safe.
How many young people experience homelessness each year?
A) 200,000
B) 1.5 million
C) 4.2 million
D) 875,000
C) 4.2 million
In the recent year, Covenant House provided nearly this many nights of safe housing across all locations.
900,000 (800,000-1 mil accepted)