Esteban Finds What He Needs

Esteban has a cheerful demeanor. He smiles often and is friendly and good natured.   He’s been at Covenant House California (CHC) for almost four months and is optimistic about his future.  When meeting him, it’s hard to believe that this is a person that used to live on the streets.

Esteban lived with his sister while he was growing up. But at the age of sixteen, she kicked him out of the house and forced him to find a place on his own.  He lived with his brother for a short while, but Esteban was lacking the family support that most people have. He soon found himself living on the streets.  

“Its bad on the streets, ” he says almost nonchalantly. “Its cold. It rains. You can’t take showers or find anything to eat.”  Esteban did what he had to to survive. “I would ask people for money. It’s embarrassing.” 

While staying at another shelter, Esteban heard about Covenant House California.  He came to CHC with hopes of just finding a place to sleep and eat, but he found that CHC offered a lot more.

He has been receiving help from CHC’s Employment Skills Program for his education. “I don’t read that well. Employment Skills is teaching me to read better.” In addition, Employment Skills has worked with Esteban with a job search.  He also has hopes of attending college sometime in the near future.

“I’d probably be in jail if not for Covenant House,”  he says. “I’d have to steal just to survive,  but this place has changed all that for me.”  Esteban says that CHC gives a person what they need and more. “They get you off the streets. They give you food, clothing, shelter but they also give a person what they need to change their life.” 

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