The funds raised by Sleep Out keep the doors open for young people overcoming homelessness at Covenant House Vancouver 24/7/365.

This isn’t a night of pretending. It's an opportunity to shine a light on the youth homelessness crisis and raise critical funds to shelter and support young people on their journey to independence.

It is also a night of solidarity, education, and advocacy; a chance to hear directly from current and former residents and gain a deeper understanding about the issues surrounding homelessness.

Sleep Out raises funds, with every dollar raised going directly to Covenant House Vancouver, helping us keep our doors open for young people who are at-risk or experiencing homelessness.

Furthermore, the event creates a community of people who may not have previously turned their attention towards the youth homelessness crisis.

Become a champion and join a group of dynamic professionals and community members helping young people experiencing homelessness. We encourage individuals and teams of people who are comfortable reaching out to their networks and advocating for youth in need.

Please note, to ensure our youth (aged 16-24) can maintain full confidentiality amongst their peers, you must be at least 25 years of age to participate in Sleep Out: Champions Edition.

The night will begin with an evening program, featuring panels from Covenant House Vancouver staff and youth, and the opportunity to tour our facilities and learn about our programs.

Participants will then head outside to begin the Sleep Out in the alleyway behind our 1280 and 1302 Seymour Street locations. All participants will be provided with a sleeping bag, piece of cardboard and a toque, and Covenant House Vancouver staff will be present throughout the night.

Participants are challenged to each raise $2,000 in critical funds for Covenant House Vancouver. All funds raised for Sleep Out: Champions Edition directly support our mental health programming.

All participants are required to fundraise. Fundraising is made easy with your own personal fundraising page and fundraising tools to reach out to your networks.

From the moment you register, the Sleep Out team is available to help you. Check out our Participant Toolkit and Social Media Guide for content, images, and ideas to help kickstart your campaign. In the weeks leading up to the event, you will also receive emails with fundraising tips and information to help you.

All funds raised for Sleep Out: Champions Edition directly support mental health programming at Covenant House Vancouver.

The youth who come to Covenant House Vancouver face many obstacles to achieve independence. Many have experienced physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse, often at the hands of adults responsible for taking care of them. This often leads to youth struggling with mental illness, which can lead to devastating impacts if left untreated.

In addition, many young people also struggle with addiction and substance abuse as they rely on drugs and alcohol to "numb" their traumas.

Covenant House Vancouver offers youth an opportunity to address their counselling and psychiatric needs. Our Registered Clinical Counsellors work from an attachment theory lens which recognizes that a safe and trusting relationship is a basic human need much like the food, clothing, and shelter we provide.

Register online or contact the Sleep Out Team at sleepout@covenanthousebc.org.

Fundraising is made easy via this website as you will be equipped with your own personal fundraising page where friends and family can donate to your Sleep Out campaign. Once you complete your registration, you’ll gain access to your online personal fundraising page.

You will receive fundraising tools which include tips, email templates and social media content to help you along the way. We ask that you approach the event with an open heart and a willingness to work hard to raise critical funds for the young people at Covenant House Vancouver.

All funds raised for Sleep Out: Champions Edition will go directly towards our mental health programming.

The best way to donate is online.

Use your online fundraising page to direct your supporters to make a donation. The online system makes collecting donations easy, receipting instantaneous, goal tracking automatic, and minimises administration costs for Covenant House.

Cash or cheque donations can also be sent to:

Cheques should be made payable to Covenant House Vancouver and include the name of the Sleep Out participant they are intended to support.

Tax receipts for online gifts will automatically be sent to the donor via email within minutes of placing the donation. Cash and cheque donations will be receipted and mailed to the donor within four weeks of the gift being received by Covenant House Vancouver.