The brick building on Washington Street
in Newark, New Jersey is large, and painted with
accents of dark green. People in passing
cars on their way to work, school, or a little downtownshopping could easily
miss it.
Some know it as a place to
call home. Some know it as a place to give hope. For Janette Scrozzo, it is a
place of second chances.
“When you go out and see what
people are really up against, nobody asked to be born into poverty or in the
projects,” said Scrozzo, outreach manager and volunteer coordinator, of Covenant House. “They need help. Thank
God for places like the Covenant House so people know that there is a way out.”
Covenant House
International was founded by Father Bruce Ritter in 1969. It has since become
the largest privately funded agency in the Americas providing services to
homeless youth, according to Reuter’s news wire. The Newark
crisis center is just one of the facilities found in 21 cities throughout the United States, Canada,
and South America.
Scrozzo, a short woman, with
straight blond hair, has been with Covenant House for 5 years. Although uneasy about how she would be
received when she first arrived, she said that she knows Covenant House is a
place she was always meant to be. When Scrozzo was 16, Father Ritter came to
her high school to talk about the Covenant House.
“Father Bruce Ritter came to
the school and planted the seed early on,” said Scrozzo. “Now I see it’s so
ironic that I’m out in schools telling kids about Covenant House and when I
look out I think one of those kids could be me.”
Scrozzo, like many of the
kids who come to Covenant House, knows what its like to be without a home. Scrozzo lost her mother at age 12. After the break down of her father, Scrozzo
was placed into foster care at 14 and lived in a group home with twelve other
girls until she was 18. Because of her
own past she feels she can relate to the feelings of the young men and women in Covenant House.
“I know nobody can take the
place of your own parents.” Scrozzo said as she looks down at her hands. “We
say we’re a family and we are a family, but it’s not the same. But it’s a better replacement than
having nobody.”
Many of the youth at Covenant
House have been aged out of the DYFS system and have no other place to go. Others have come from homes where they have
been sexually and physically abused. Some have been kicked out by their parents. Many are gang
affiliated. Despite their circumstances
they still find a reason to smile.
Sitting in the lobby, young
men and women can be seen coming in and out of the glass doors. On the wall
behind the reception desk there is a sign that reads, “Opening doors for
Homeless Youth.” Youth of a variety of races and ethnicities fill Covenant
House daily. While there are only 45 residents at the crisis center,
non-residents are allowed to come in and utilize the day services.
When the kids are not at work
or engaged in educational training, job development, or addiction counseling.
Many assemble in the day room. On any
day you can see young people between ages18-22, laughing, playing cards, or
just talking to fellow staff and residents. It is not uncommon to see someone
sharing a joke or hug with a staff member.
One resident of Covenant
House, Chatrice T., 22, was in a domestic violence relationship, while living
in Philadelphia.
After being dropped off at Covenant House by her ex, Chatrice said that it
was there that she found family.
“I gained love and family.”
said Chatrice as she places her hand on her “sisters” shoulder. “I gained one
sister here and a brother.”
Chatrice said that she also
gained self-esteem and learned to become independent. Chatrice smiles as she
explains that she now works at Olive Garden and has almost saved up enough
money to move into a transitional apartment. She admits that it was rough in the beginning.
“In the beginning when we did
all of the assessments it was awkward.” said Chatrice. “But I know it was just
to help me.”
Gwendolyn Ross, “Mama Gwen,”
as she is called by the staff and residents, has been with Covenant House for 8
yrs, as the Career Development Specialist. After embracing in a hug Scrozzo
said that Mama Gwen is like a mother to all the people at Covenant House. It is because of her mother like nature that
many of the kids come to her for more than Career Development.
Sitting at her desk Mama Gwen
remembers one day when a man who had just recently gotten off drugs brought his
son into Covenant House. He wanted his son to utilize the GED and job
development services. On this day she
saw the kids of Covenant House come around together and encourage one young
man.
“At first I wondered why this
man came to me,” said Ross, with widened eyes. “I’m not the intake person. But the kids surrounded him and told him how
good this place was. It was so
amazing. By the end everyone was crying
and the boy decided to accept our help.”
This type of outreach is not
uncommon for kids at Covenant House. Scrozzo smiles as she explains how due to popular demand, outreach has
become a privilege.
“It wasn’t always like that.”
said Scrozzo. “But because they love to do, it’s gotten to the point that if you
want to come you have to be a role model in here first if you want to be a role
model out there. That means you have to be following your case plan, have
appropriate behavior, be respectful to yourself and the people that live and
work here.”
Scrozzo said that the kids
want to do outreach because being able to tell their story helps them heal.
“I think it makes them feel
good.” said Scrozzo as compassion fills her voice. “I think everybody needs to
feel needed. There is a big sense a pride when you go out and help your
community. And it empowers them.”
Scrozzo often embraces kids
in hugs as she walks the halls. She laughs and encourages those who need
it. She congratulates those who make a
point to tell her of their accomplishments. She reassures those who fall short. She like other Covenant House staff members
allow for second chances.
“We take kids three and four
and five times over again.” said Scrozzo. “Even if they fall we’re there to
pick them up. It’s not always instant success. Sometimes it just takes more
than one chance, like all of us.”
Jessica S. Flores is a Rutgers-Newark student. Posted January 2009.
