St. John’s University’s Covenant House International is scrambling to address the challenges posed to their operations by COVID-19, but are making headway thanks to remarkable individuals, the school reported in a press release.

Covenant House International is a housing ministry for at-risk youth who are on the verge of or currently experiencing homelessness.

One example of this inspiring dedication was exhibited by the way that the staff responded to the difficulties, with resilience rather than fear. 

“I have been so proud of how fearless our staff has been and how committed they are to continue serving our young people,” Kevin Ryan, president and CEO of Covenant House International said in a release. “Very early on we lost a staff person at one of our sites, and it was shocking and tragic. It also had me so worried about what was coming our way because we were only in the second or third week of the pandemic.”

While the cost of personal protective equipment quickly rose, so too did the contributions of board members for Covenant House, who ensured that the organization was able to sustain the type of resources needed to protect both the staff and those they minister to. 

Additional shortages in food quickly became apparent and despite the increase in demand, the supply was able to maintain a steady flow of meals for the many children and young individuals who needed it. 

Mental health demands were met with increased accessibility to mental health counselors, to ensure that individuals struggling psychologically were not overlooked. 

While the pandemic could have shaken the organization to its core and left many individuals without the care that they required, the dedication of the Covenant House staff saw that the worst-case scenario was averted. 

“Being without shelter and sick with COVID-19 compounds the human misery,” Rev. Patrick J. Griffin, executive director of the Vincentian Center for Church and Society said in a release. “Covenant House provides health care, as well as housing and meals, to thousands of these young people. Mr. Ryan and his colleagues stand in for all of us in making the Gospel a reality for our marginalized children.”