I’ll be honest: when I first heard about the Covenant House Sleep Out, I knew homelessness existed, but I knew shockingly little about why it happens or what could be done.
This will be my sixth Sleep Out — a night spent outside to raise money for homeless youth. And every year, I learn something new about myself, about privilege, and about the 4.2 million young people who will experience homelessness this year.
The Night That Opened My Eyes
My first Sleep Out in Houston started with an outreach to the local bus station. I watched a young person, someone who could have been my own kid, ask for a bottle of clean water.
We walked straight to the gas station and bought every bottle of water they had.
That simple act brought a level of urgency I’d never felt before. You can always say, “It’s too big a problem for me to fix.” But that night, I learned: one bottle of water can help. One night in a safe place can change the direction of a life.
What I Didn’t Know About Youth Homelessness
Here are three truths that shattered my misconceptions:
Myth #1: Young people choose to be homeless
Truth: They’re homeless because the situation they were coming from was so unsafe that the street was a better alternative.
Myth #2: Not all homeless youth are visible on the streets
Truth: Most are couch surfing or in dangerous situations. You walk past them every day and never know.
Myth #3: “If they just got a job…”
Truth: 90% of young people at Covenant House were employed within the last year. But even with a job, young people can’t afford rent in most cities.
Why This Matters Now
I asked Bill Bedrossian, CEO of Covenant House, why youth homelessness doesn’t make headlines. His answer: We don’t see these young people. They have backpacks. They’re going to school and work. They look like everyone else, until they don’t have a place to sleep that night.
But I’m asking you not to look away.
The Sleep Out: I Hate It, and I Love It
Here’s my pitch: It’s like vegetables. You don’t know until you try it.
You’ll hate it. You’ll be tired, cold, uncomfortable. But you’ll love it, because you’ll realize: I made a difference. When I wake up that morning, I think about how I get to take a shower, go home to my bed, not check the weather to plan where I’ll sleep.
That’s the privilege we take for granted. The Sleep Out isn’t about pretending to be homeless. It’s about understanding, even for one night, what it means to not have a safe place to sleep.
Team Texas: $572,000 and Counting
Since 2016, Cisco’s Team Texas has raised more than $572,000 for Covenant House. That money helped build a brand new shelter in Houston, and this year will be our first Sleep Out at the new location.
Here’s what I’ve learned about fundraising: If my success rate in sales was as good as asking people to support this cause, I’d be famous. I’ve never had a friend or family member say no. People want to help. They just need to know how.
The Math Problem We Can Solve
Bill told me: Homelessness is a math problem. We don’t have enough housing. Costs have risen faster than wages. Even young people with jobs can’t afford rent.
But we can solve math problems. Covenant House works on three fronts:
- Prevention: Keeping families together with support
- Intervention: Providing shelter, counseling, job training, education
- Restoration: Creating affordable housing for working young people
We can end youth homelessness. But we can’t do it alone.
November 20th: Join Us
Team Texas is sleeping out at our new Houston shelter. Cisco is aiming for 500 sleepers across all cities and raising $1.5 million. We need you. Join us in Houston, Philadelphia, Chicago, DC, New York, San Francisco, or one of our other 17 locations. Or sleep in your backyard.
Just do it.
The Moment That Stays With Me
After that first outreach, I sat in a parking lot and thought: I don’t have to look at the weather tonight. I don’t have to plan where I’ll sleep. I just get to go home. That safety is something these young people deserve too.
One night. One bottle of water. One opportunity. That’s all it takes to change a life.
How to Get Involved:
Sign up: Covenant House Sleep Out
Join Team Texas or find your local team captain
Can’t sleep out in person? Sleep in your backyard and fundraise from home
Let’s show these young people they’re not invisible. They matter.
See you on November 20th.
