Sleep-Out Shows What Life Is Like for Homeless Kids

For 20-year-old Nigeria, childhood was a battle.

Both of her parents died before she was 14, and her teen years were spent in foster care.

“I realized when I first got to my foster mother's home she wasn't accepting …,” said Nigeria, who asked that ABC not use her last name.

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Nigeria is gay, and she said she used to “dress like a tomboy.” It wasn’t okay with her foster mother, who told her “don’t dress like that … either change your clothes or leave,” Nigeria recalled.

Nigeria was soon on the streets, and, for two years, she slept on friends’ couches and even in subway cars.

But two months ago, everything changed for her. She found Covenant House – a nonprofit organization that helps homeless and runaway youths get off the streets.

Covenant House provided Nigeria with a room, and it’s helping her fulfill her dream of becoming a nurse’s aide. Her training starts next week.

She looks forward to being able to help people, much in the same way others have helped her.

“I love people, that’s who I am,” she said, laughing.

Every year, Covenant Houses across the nation rescue thousands of young people like Nigeria.

The organization took its outreach to a different level when it challenged ABC correspondent Gio Benitez and an estimated 70 employees of Lenox Advisors to a Sleep-Out, where they spent the entire night outside to give them insight into the experience of so many homeless and runaway youths.

Benitez spent the windy, wet night in a sleeping bag and cardboard box.

Kevin Ryan, the president of Covenant House, said the sleep-outs raise awareness and millions of dollars to help the organization’s work.

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