Annual Report_2021

2021
ANNUAL REPORT
COVENANT HOUSE
CALIFORNIA

A LETTER FROM OUR CEO
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Bill Bedrossian
Chief Executive Officer,
Covenant House California
Omid Yazdi
Board Chair,
Partner, KPMG, LLP
4 SUCCESS STORY
When we began planning for our agency growth, several years ago, we could have never
anticipated the impact COVID-19 would have on the world … and our plans! Despite the many
challenges presented by the pandemic, this past year has been one of incredible growth and
accomplishment, in so many ways. We have leaned heavily into the practices of JOY and
GRATITUDE to get through these unprecedented times. As you will see in this report, our
community of support has never been more generous, our staff have never been more courageous,
and our youth have never been more triumphant!
We have so much to be thankful for! In addition to opening new Covenant House CA sites in
Santa Clara and Orange County, we have been inspired, day after day, by how the youth we serve
continue to drive forward towards achieving their dreams. For some, the isolation, hardships, and
resulting depression have been devastating. We are so grateful to be able to provide community,
health, and mental health services, which in many cases have been lifesaving. For many others, we
have witnessed just how adaptable, motivated, and creative they can be; finding new employment
opportunities, seeing new possibilities in an increasingly virtual world, and even giving back to
others in ways that they would have appreciated while experiencing homelessness. Getting to see
these struggles and accomplishments firsthand has motivated and inspired us to do more. In this
coming year, we will open new sites in Hayward and Los Angeles and are working on several
other expansions that will continue to help us have more impact and get more young people into
safe housing, and on their way to achieving their dreams.
In this moment we are incredibly thankful for your support. For the ways you have enabled our
youth to survive and thrive through one of the hardest times ever to experience homelessness.
On behalf of the youth, staff, and Board of Directors of Covenant House California, thank you for
the unconditional love and generous support that you have committed to ensuring young people
can transform their lives.
Bill Bedrossian
Chief Executive Officer
“When I first learned I was pregnant,
I couldn’t imagine how to support my
baby – let alone myself. It’s a relief to know
that we are safe at Covenant House, with kind
people that care for us. I’d like to thank the staff
for making me feel supported, while I figure out
what’s next for Angel and I.
– Jamie & Baby Angel
6 PROGRAMMATIC
GROWTH
8 SANTA CLARA
SITE OPENING
10 ORANGE COUNTY
SHELTER OPENING
12 OUR FINANCIALS
15 FRONTLINE STAFF
HIGHLIGHTS
18 BOARD LEADERSHIP
20 STAFF LEADERSHIP
2
3

SUCCESS STORY
FROM THE COV IN CALIFORNIA TO THE PEACE
CORPS IN UKRAINE, MEET SAGE– A truly incredible
Covenant House California Alumna!
Sage’s story is marked by courage, service & the gritty determination to never give
up on yourself, nor the people who need support in your path … no matter what.
Sage found herself living at Covenant House California after surviving multiple traumatic
experiences at the hands of the adults that should have protected her, instead of exploiting her.
She quickly connected with her case manager Mr. Lee, who saw how smart, curious, and
determined she was. Sage enrolled in school at Golden West Community College, wherein after
completing her studies many of our staff were able to attend her graduation ceremony to celebrate
all that she accomplished! Sage continuously expresses that the Cov was the first family she ever
truly felt safe with. She also pointed out that her graduation was also the first time anyone had ever
given her flowers.
Although we were sad to see Sage pack up her room in our Supportive Apartment program, we all
knew she was more than ready to fly on her own! She immersed herself in linguistic studies at
UC San Diego, and in less than 2 years she received her bachelor’s degree in Russian Studies and
Linguistics. That summer, Sage surprised us by showing up at our annual summer BBQ with cap &
gown in hand – she wanted to take another graduation picture with her chosen family.
Fast forward a few months: when an opportunity to move to Ukraine (with the Peace Corps) to work
in a school teaching English to students who are Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing came up, she jumped at
the opportunity. At the same time navigated teaching English to her students, her students taught
her Ukrainian Sign Language. This is something she will always be grateful for.
Prior to the Peace Corps, Sage was fluent in English, Russian, and American Sign Language.
After a year in Ukraine, Sage was fluent to varying degrees in 5 languages … adding Ukrainian and
Ukrainian Sign Language to her repertoire. Most importantly, Sage fell in love with the Ukrainian
people, their language, and their culture. By everyone, from her host family to the kids and the
coworkers at her school, Sage felt safe, loved, and honored to be doing work that she was doing.
Sage found a place to call “home” and expanded her chosen family.
In March of 2020, the COVID Pandemic impacted us all profoundly. Unfortunately for Sage, the
Peace Corps decided to evacuate all participants back to the United States. She was young enough
to move back into Covenant House California to stabilize, but in her heart - it felt like erasing all
the progress she’d made since leaving. Being the resourceful person she is, Sage soon found a job,
a room to rent, and decided she wanted to work for Covenant House in New Orleans! Well, that
wasn’t enough to keep her amazing mind active, so she enrolled in a Masters of Public Health
program at Tulane University. Yes, you read that right, Sage now has a Master’s degree in Public
Health and she eagerly awaits her diploma in the mail, and she told us she will come see us in
California to take another graduation photo with her! (Continued on page 14)
4 – Sage
Sage’s name and photo have been changed for her safety - this is her story that she helped to shape, edit and gave
approval for us to share with you.
5

PROGRAMMATIC GROWTH
COVENANT HOUSE CALIFORNIA YOUTH BEDS
2021
115 YOUTH BEDS
ALAMEDA COUNTY:
• Oakland: 18 Shelter Beds
• Oakland: 22 Transitional Housing Beds
• DreamCatcher: 20 Shelter Beds
• YEAH/Hayward: 30 Shelter Beds
• +25 Rapid Re-Housing Beds
30 YOUTH BEDS
SANTA CLARA COUNTY:
• 30 Transitional Housing Beds
379
TOTAL
YOUTH
BEDS
209 YOUTH BEDS
LOS ANGELES COUNTY:
• 76 Shelter Beds
• 4 Mental Health Beds
• 24 Transitional Housing Beds
• 10 Supportive Apartment Beds
• 20 Permanent Supportive Housing Beds
(COMING SOON)
• 75 Rapid Rehousing Beds
25 YOUTH BEDS
ORANGE COUNTY:
• 25 Shelter Beds
• Permanent Supportive Housing Beds
(COMING SOON)
124
YOUTH
BEDS IN
2014
6
7

SANTA CLARA SITE OPENING
On May 20, Covenant House cut the ribbon on “an amazing, sacred space that will be home for
young people who were facing and now overcoming homelessness,” says Kevin Ryan, President &
CEO of Covenant House International. He went on to say “we were not unaccompanied in the
darkness...from the very minute the pandemic set in for us, Cisco made extraordinary gifts so that
young people had a safe place to be. Cisco has made this possible - this is a house that would not
have existed but for Cisco’s leadership and generosity. Cisco has time and time again stepped
up to be hope and love in the world for young people.”
This site will provide housing for youth ages 18-24, for up to two years, or until they are ready to
move into their own homes. Services will include three nutritious meals per day, onsite case
management, mental health counseling, education and employment support, and access to
long-term housing opportunities.
During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Chuck Robbins, CEO of Cisco Systems,
shared that “the power of public/private partnerships is astounding.
The ability for us to really work together is the way we’ll
solve problems.”
“Our journey to Santa Clara started five years ago,” said Bill Bedrossian, CEO of Covenant House
California. “We knew we needed to be here, but we didn’t know how to do it because they kept
telling me there is no money. But, the momentum really took off on that cold night in November
2019 when hundreds of Cisco employees slept with us in a parking lot and wanted to do something
in their community for young people.”
“There is a tremendous need and a tremendous opportunity to really prevent homelessness for
future generations if we can get young people out of homelessness and into employment and
supported by a community that really cares about them,” said Bill. “We could not be more excited
to call Santa Clara home for Covenant House. On June 1st young people will be living here.
We can’t wait to house them and make this their home.”
8
“
For more information on our newest site, or to get involved: www.covenanthousecalifornia.org/santaclara
9
Cisco has time and time again stepped up to be hope and love in the
world for young people.
– CEO of CISCO

ORANGE COUNTY
SHELTER OPENING
On December 17th, 2021, we celebrated the grand opening of our newest site in Orange County
California! We celebrated by cutting the ribbon with our Orange County committee, a group of loyal
donors who helped make this 7-year vision a reality! Throughout the day, we toured multiple
government and collaborating agencies through the space, in addition to several donors who have
given to Covenant House for decades – who were overwhelmed with joy to know that we are now
officially their neighbor in Orange County - serving the youth who needs us most. Today, we are
thrilled that 25 young people have a safe place to call “home” in Orange County. In addition to
housing, Covenant House California provides all basic needs items (food, clothing, transportation
support … etc.). We also provide individualized case management and support to help each young
person heal from the trauma of their past and look to the future goals they have for their lives.
10
For more information on our newest site, or to get involved: www.covenanthousecalifornia.org/anaheim
11

EXPENSES & REVENUE GROWTH
COMPLETE TRANSPARENCY
EXPENSES
EXPENSES FY2021
Total Functional Expenses Before
Depreciation and Amortization
$20,081,460
$23,846,950
REVENUE
REVENUE FY2021
July 2020 - June 2021
PROGRAM &
SERVICES
$18,894,136
$20,990,070 FY2020
July 2019-June 2020
FUNDRAISING &
ADMINISTRATION
$1,187,324
$17,938,005
FY2019
July 2018-June 2019
COMMUNITY SERVICES (6%)
$1,089,329
OUTREACH SERVICES (8%)
$1,559,186
MEDICAL FEES (3%)
$621,696
PUBLIC EDUCATION (1%)
$301,818
CONTRIBUTED GOODS &
SERVICES (7%)
EVENTS (5%)
OTHER SOURCES
OF INCOME (3%)
FOUNDATION GIVING (7%)
PROGRAM & SERVICES
SHELTER & CRISIS (50%)
$9,502,913
CORPORATE GIVING (7%)
SOURCES OF REVENUE
GOVERNMENT GRANTS (52%)
TRANSITIONAL
HOUSING (32%)
$5,819,194
BRANDING (8%)
INDIVIDUAL GIVING (9%)
12
13

SUCCESS STORY
FROM THE COV IN CALIFORNIA TO THE PEACE
CORPS IN UKRAINE, MEET SAGE– A truly incredible
Covenant House California Alumna! (Continued from page 4)
FRONTLINE STAFF HIGHLIGHTS
Sadly, during 2020 she was hospitalized with COVID. We are grateful and relieved to report that
she has fully recovered. After Sage recovered from her COVID hospital stay, had secured her own
housing, obtained three jobs (including Covenant House New Orleans), and was in her final semester
at Tulane – Hurricane Ida devastated the area. When the Cov flooded and was not safe for residents
to stay in, Sage boarded the bus with the residents to stay at the Cov in Houston while they figured
out what was next. For weeks she supported, counseled, and helped take care of the youth who
found themselves displaced due to the hurricane, even while she was grappling with losing nearly all
her possessions due to flooding. We were proud that Sage reached out to our Alumni Coordinator,
Ms. Lon in California, and asked if there was anything we could do to help. Thanks to special
funding for supporting our alumni, we were able to provide Sage with a small grant to help replace
some of her basic needs that were taken from her in the hurricane (food, clothes, and appliances).
Fast forward to February 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine. Sage’s heart was broken to see the
country and people she loved hurting and fleeing. She recently shared with our team, “An entire
country is now experiencing an atrocity that is completely uncalled for. They are being assaulted
and exploited by no fault of their own and now many women and children are refugees across the
European Union (EU). An entire country of beautiful people have had their security, communities,
their way of life … and their homes taken from them.”
One of Sage’s greatest gifts is connecting people to resources. She’s been busy coordinating with
groups of people in Ukraine that reach out to her to help connect them with safe places to stay in
the EU, and access food, medical services, and other basic needs. One day, when it is safe to do so
and the Ukrainian government invites volunteers to come back, her hope is to return to Ukraine to
help rebuild, in any way that is needed.
Sage is taking charge of her own future – and saving to purchase her own land and build a small
home. She craves a place of her own, a place she’ll always know that she can come back to. A
place that no one can take from her – where she can leave her belongings because she doesn’t
have to carry everything she owns in a backpack. While Sage is saving up for her own home, she is
actively supporting anyone she knows who needs help (especially her Ukrainian family).
To say we are proud of her feels inadequate. What an honor to bear witness to her incredible
story, which we know is just getting started. To be continued …
“I have continued to be so proud of all
our Frontline staff throughout the ever-changing
challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic! To see their
resilience, bravery, and commitment by showing up every
day to continue serving the needs of our youth without hesitation
has been truly inspiring! It’s an honor to work alongside such an
amazing group of heroes!
– Jesus Siordia, Director Of Residential Services in Oakland
(CHC employee for 25+ years)
14
15

16
17

BOARD LEADERSHIP
OMID YAZDI, Board Chair
Partner, KPMG, LLP
MICHAEL KIBLER, Vice Chair
Managing Partner, Kibler Fowler & Cave LLP
EDYTH ADEDEJI,
Director, Los Angeles & Southwest Sales at
Delta Air Lines
FRED ALI
President & CEO, Weingart Foundation (retired)
GUS ANAGNOS
CISO, University of Southern California
HONORABLE WILLIAM BRODHEAD
Attorney, Former Congressman (Michigan)
MIA DEMONTIGNY, Finance Committee Chair
VP, Controller and CFO, SoCal Gas
KRISTINE DUNN
Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom
JOY ERVEN
COO, Supply Line Association of California
KELLY GORDON
COO, Topson Downs (retired)
LANDIS GRADEN
CEO of DCG Strategies, A National Real Estate Company
JACQUELINE GUICHELAAR
Group Chief Information Officer, Cisco
PAUL HANNEMAN
Development Committee Co-Chair
ILENE HARKER, Governance Committee Chair
Head of Enterprise Risk, Western Asset
Management (retired)
RICARDO HARTIGAN
Audit & Investment Committee Chair
Director, BlackRock
DENNIS JILOT
CEO, Specializing Technology Resources (retired)
DARYL KUETER
Sr. Vice President Small Business Banking,
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
KEVIN MACLELLAN
Chairman, Global Distribution and International,
NBC Universal (retired)
JOHN MAVREDAKIS
Senior Managing Director, Houlihan,
Lokey Howard and Zukin
LIZA PANO, Development Committee Co-Chair
Senior Vice President, Worldwide Distribution Services,
Paramount Pictures
ADAM PETTIJOHN
Business Development Associate at Wedbush Securities
JAMES ROSSITER
Chief Revenue Officer, Next Gate Solutions
Founder and CEO, CurData Solutions
SHANTEL WILLIAMS
Covenant House California Alumni, Youth Advocate
“
My life was forever changed by people who cared
enough about me to invest in my future. They saw my
potential and gifts, not the dire circumstances surrounding my youth.
Covenant House of California’s work is sacred and forever alters lives.
Vulnerable and often alienated young people, like I once was, are given hope,
stability, and resources that will set them on a course that not only
impacts them, but also the generations that will follow.
– Landis Graden
18
19

STAFF LEADERSHIP
BILL BEDROSSIAN
Chief Executive Officer
LAILANIE JONES
Senior Vice President,
Southern California
NEETA PATEL
Chief Operating Officer
STEVEN BAKER
Director of Strategic Growth
DANIEL BALLIN
LCSW, Clinical Director
ERIKA BENITEZ
Bay Area Operations Manager
PAIDA NDEMERA
Senior Vice President,
Northern California
STEPHANIE BLAIR-DANIEL
Director of Human Resources
BRIAN BOB
Director of Support Services
AMBA JOHNSON
Director of Learning and Prevention
BEVERLY MEZA
Director of Transitional Living Programs
TYRONE POTTS
Chief Financial Officer
AMI ROWLAND
Chief Program Officer
SHELBY BOOKER
Director of Santa Clara Programs
ASHLEY BURNS
Director of YEAH! Program
ANTHONY NGUYEN
Controller
ANDREW RAMAGLIA
Director of Grant Management and Compliance
STACEY CHRISTENSON
Director of Operations
DR. BILL SINGLETON
Project Consultant
AMANDA SATTLER
Chief Development &
Communications Officer
ANTHONY CONLEY
Director of Support Services
HEATHER FLYNN
Director of Development Operations
JESUS SIORDIA
Director of Residential Services
AMANDA SZYDLOWSKI
Director of Safe Haven Programs
ELLEN HURTADO
Director of DreamCatcher Program
POLLY WILLIAMS
Director of Orange County Programs
20 21

OUR MISSION
Covenant House California is dedicated to
serving all God’s children, with absolute
respect and unconditional love, to help youth
experiencing homelessness, and to protect
and safeguard all youth in need.
ALAMEDA | LOS ANGELES | ORANGE | SANTA CLARA
FEDERAL TAX ID: 13-3391210
www.covenanthousecalifornia.org