Sleep Out is an immersive experience that offers the opportunity to learn from experts on the front lines who are working to end youth homelessness. Participants can connect with colleagues and community leaders and hear directly from people who have overcome homelessness. The tone ranges from moments of celebration and inspiration to solidarity and reflection.  

Participants can register as an In-Person or Virtual Sleeper.  All registrants are invited to begin the night together with a Light Dinner and Meet & Greet portion of the program, followed by the Night of Hope Symposium. The symposium will include Covenant House Missouri residents sharing their journeys through homelessness, a round table panel with experts discussing the complexities of youth homelessness and opportunities to learn how to advocate in meaningful ways to end youth homelessness.

Following the symposium, Sleepers will gather outside on the field for closing remarks and a Candlelight Reflection. Sleepers may then gather their gear and settle down for the evening. Campfires will be maintained throughout the night, and representatives will be available for discussion and reflection. Sleepers will be woken at 5:00 am and are then welcome to share in Reflection time and partake in coffee and a Grab-and-go Breakfast.

Individuals can register here as a In-Person or Virtual Sleeper. You will be prompted to select a role as individual, join a team as a member or start a team as a captain. See the full description for each category below.

• In-Person Sleepers are asked to have an open heart and mind and be willing to step outside of their comfort zone. In return, the event promises a life-changing experience. Sleepers must be 18 or older or accompanied by a parent or guardian. Each Sleeper is required to set a minimum fundraising goal of $2000, but we encourage you to challenge yourself by choosing a higher goal you feel is achievable. Covenant House International and Covenant House Missouri will have coaches and resources available to support you in your efforts. Once registered, Sleepers will have access to a customizable and easy-to-use peer-to-peer fundraising platform that includes in-person or virtual support from fundraising coaches. Sleepers will gather at Harris-Stowe State University for the duration of the event.  Following the meet-and-greet, light dinner and symposium portion of the evening, Sleepers will meet on the field for a candlelight reflection, and then settle into their sleeping bags for a night’s rest. 
  • Sleeper registration is free no matter what role you select. Official Sleep Out merchandise will be awarded to sleepers who raise $250+ by the Sleep Out date. Sleepers can guarantee their shirt size and additional gifts if they opt in to donate an initial $75, which will count toward their fundraising goal. 
• Virtual Sleepers are supporters who share the passion to end youth homelessness, but are unable to Sleep Out in person. Virtual Sleepers may participate in all of the pre-sleep out activities at Harris-Stowe State University and then head elsewhere to Sleep Out in a safe, legal location (like your backyard).  If they are out of town or unavailable to attend any on site activities that day, they can still fundraise as they would otherwise. 
  • Virtual sleeper registration is free. Official Sleep Out merchandise will be awarded to virtual sleepers who raise $250+ by the Sleep Out date. Virtual sleepers can guarantee their shirt size and additional gifts if they opt in to donate $75, which will count toward their fundraising goal. Shirts and additional gifts may be picked up at the CHMO campus following the scheduled Sleep Out event by appointment only.  
• Your Role indicates your fundraising approach. You can fundraise as an Individual, you can Join a team as a member, or you can Create a team as a captain. If you plan to fundraise on your own, select "individual" as your role. If you and a group of family, friends, or colleagues are interested in combining your efforts and fundraising together, you can be a part of a team. Your group should identify one individual to register and "Create a team" as their role. Be sure to agree upon a team name for the captain to register under prior to signing up! From there, additional individuals can register and identify their role as "join a team" where they will be prompted to search for their team's name. 

Sleepers are welcome to participate as individuals, or by creating or joining a team. Participating in Sleep Out with your coworkers, friends, and family can be a powerful experience that bonds you in unexpected and meaningful ways. Forming a team can deepen your connections as you work together towards a common goal, creating shared memories and fostering a sense of unity and purpose. Your team can consist of employees of a company, members of a group or club, or other like-minded individuals such as your friends, family, and neighbors. By recruiting teammates, you not only increase your impact but also enhance the collective energy and support, making the experience even more rewarding and enjoyable for everyone involved. So, gather your community and join us for an unforgettable night of solidarity and support for youth homelessness!

The minimum team goal is recommended at $5,000 or $2,500 per team member. This goal can be adjusted at any time as you add more members to your team. Teams can either direct funds and donations through the Team Captain's Sleep Out page, or collect individually and add up the totals of each team member. 

Did you know that, on any given night, approximately 600 young people throughout the St. Louis region are without a safe place to sleep tonight?  Often, these young people will resort to couch surfing, sleeping in unsafe or abandoned buildings, or exchanging in transactional arrangements for the promise of a place to sleep. 

We Sleep Out so they don’t have to. When we Sleep Out, we do so to raise awareness about the real issues facing these youth and to raise funds to ensure that a safe place to sleep and support services are available to them 24/7. 

While we are not enforcing a fundraising minimum, we encourage Sleepers to try to raise a minimum of $2,000 through peer-to-peer fundraising efforts.  If you're nervous about fundraising, reach out! Our team is here to support you every step of the way. Contact us to speak with a fundraising coach or visit our Fundraising Center for a step-by-step guide, sample messages, and shareable content. Fundraising can be daunting — it's part of the commitment you make to step outside your comfort zone when you decide to Sleep Out — but you are never in it alone.

Last year, the average sleeper raised $4,169, and the average team raised $15,654.  Our top team raised $71,600 and the top individual fundraiser raised $27,700.  One Sleeper stated, “I really wanted to try to do the Sleep Out but was worried no one would support my efforts.  After I registered as a sleeper and set up my fundraising page, I found it was really easy to reach out to people and ask them to support me.  I was surprised at how many people cared about what I was trying to do and sent in donations.”  

As the only youth emergency shelter in the region that serves young people ages 16-24, Covenant House Missouri addresses a critical gap by serving individuals who are too old for children's shelters and too young and vulnerable for adult residential programs. Our services include housing, health and wellness, employment, education, and other case management needs.  

Beyond immediate needs such as food, household items, and clothing, we also offer advice, encouragement, programing, and emergency assistance. Working closely with unsheltered and at-risk youth, our outreach case managers assist in goal-setting and connect youth with supportive resources, both within CHMO and through community partners, to support their journey toward stability.

CHMO offers a holistic approach designed to address a youth's immediate crisis and empower them to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty. They receive the tools needed to live independent and fulfilling lives. Our services are open to all at-risk youth, even those not enrolled in one of our residential programs. Below is a list of our basic programs. Click here to learn more about each program and additional services we offer. 

• Residential Services
  • ​Genesis Shelter Program
  • Transitional Living Program
  • Youth Development Specialists
• Health & Wellness Center
  • On-site therapy (individual, group and family)
  • On-site nurse practitioner (physical exams, vaccinations, prescriptions and care coordination)
  • Virtual Psychiatric Care
  • Community Health Services (dental, vision, etc.)
• Education & Career Center
  • On-site GED & HiSet programs
  • Community Education Classes (financial literacy, life skills, etc.)
• Outreach & AfterCare: Although all CHMO services are freely available to youth aged 16-24, there are often real or perceived barriers preventing them from reaching our doors. Negative past experiences or the fear of navigating complex processes may be deterring factors. Some may simply be unaware of our services. Our proactive case management team actively seeks out these youth and collaborates with other service providers to convey that they are welcome here, just as they are.