Almost Home: Helping Kids Move from Homelessness to Hope

by Kevin M. Ryan, Tina Kelley

Inside the lives of homeless teens—moving stories of pain and hope from Covenant House Almost Home tells the stories of six remarkable young people from across the United States and Canada as they confront life alone on the streets. Each eventually finds his or her way to Covenant House, the largest charity serving homeless and runaway youth in North America. From the son of a crack addict who fights his own descent into drug addiction to a teen mother reaching for a new life, their stories veer between devastating and inspiring as they each struggle to find a place called home. Inviting us to get to know homeless teens as more than an accumulation of statistics and societal issues, this book gives a human face to a huge but largely invisible problem and offers practical insights into how to prevent homelessness and help homeless youth move to a hopeful future. For instance, one kid in the book goes on to become a college football player and counselor to at-risk adolescents and another becomes a state kickboxing champion. All the stories inspire us with victories of the human spirit, large and small. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each book will help support kids who benefit from Covenant House's shelter and outreach services.

Genres: Nonfiction, School, Memoir, Biography

257 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 14, 2012

About the author

Kevin Ryan, a father, activist and child advocate, is president and CEO of Covenant House, one of the largest charities in the Americas. Covenant House helps more than 56,000 homeless and trafficked children and teenagers annually in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala. The charity’s international human rights work has been awarded the Conrad Hilton Humanitarian Award, the Olaf Palme Peace Prize, the United States Department of State Hero Citation, and, earlier this year, the Guatemala Hands of Peace Award.

During the 1990s, Ryan spent nearly a decade on the frontlines of Covenant House’s work with homeless and trafficked children on the streets of New York and New Jersey before he was appointed by the governor of New Jersey as the state’s first child advocate. In that role, he founded a public watchdog agency charged with monitoring conditions for children at risk of abuse and neglect. His work received national attention, including two appearances on “60 Minutes,” front-page stories in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Philadelphia Inquirer, when he uncovered conditions of severe and illegal overcrowding in the state’s juvenile centers. He is a graduate of Catholic University (BA), Georgetown Law Center (JD) and NYU Law School (LLM), as well as a former Skadden Fellow and Wasserstein Fellow at Harvard Law School.

In 2006, he was nominated by the governor of New Jersey to lead a reform of the state’s foster care system as the state's first Commissioner of Children and Families. During his tenure, New Jersey set new state records for adoptions, net gains in foster families, and safety for children in foster care. He currently serves by appointment of federal courts as the monitor of reform efforts underway in Michigan and Oklahoma as a member of Public Catalyst.

He returned to the charity of his heart, Covenant House, as its fourth international president in 2009. In October 2012, John Wiley & Sons published Almost Home, a book by Ryan and former New York Times reporter Tina Kelley. Three years in the making, the book chronicles the extraordinary true journey of six formerly homeless teenagers in the United States and Canada as they overcome abuse, violence, and heartbreak to achieve their dreams.

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"you may not be able to repair young people to the point that they can be who they could've been if they had been raised in an appropriate, loving way and offered all of the resources every child deserves. If you dwell on that, then you'll never get engaged, and the kids need our involvement. What you're changing is a kid's life trajectory. Some will achieve great heights and have a real potential to serve others, precisely because of the life lessons they have gained through hardship."

[Barrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was crying while reading this factual, well-written book on the train. A woman sitting across from me asked "are you okay?" and we started a conversation about how we can make the world a better place.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enlightening and touching! Read this book you're sure to appreciate life, family, and friends so much more.

[Maddy Glockle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book covers many sensitive issues that world doesn’t always feel comfortable talking about. It talks about homelessness, sex trafficking, teen pregnancy, LGBTQ, and abuse. “In Canada, an estimated sixty- five thousand young people are homeless” (Ryan 2). This book really stretches your mind on homelessness. In a way, you’re put in these people’s shoes, and are feeling what they felt. Almost home, reveals stories of six teens that have gone through these issues. They all have a different story and are trying to improve certain things about themselves. Every person in this story had to overcome an obstacle. They had to prove to themselves and the people around them that they were able to not fall under the pressure of bad influence. That is why I think the author wrote this book. He wanted to show that there are people out there that have been put down by other people but were able to get back up and keep fighting. He wanted to prove that everybody has potential and can be successful if they put their mind to it. That is what I think Kevin Ryan's purpose was for writing "Almost Home". I believe that the theme of "Almost Home" is to never give up and to be your own motivator. All of the people in this book reached a point in their lives where they did not think they could push any further. They thought they had fallen so hard that they could not get back up. But, they overcame the odds and kept fighting. They fought for what they believed was right and did not ever give up. They had all seen themselves hit that low in their and they never wanted to have to go back to that.
My opinion of "Almost Home" is that it was very well written. I felt like I was really able to grasp the story and its meaning. I think that is very important for an author to be able connect the story with the reader. I overall enjoyed the book and the stories that were told within it. There is not any one specific thing that I disliked or would have wanted to changed about the book. This book is not really a genre that I usually read or want to read, so it was very different. I have not read a book similar to this one. Those are my thoughts on the book "Almost Home" by Kevin Ryan.

[Leighann Wolle · Rating 4 out of 5]

To most Americans, poverty, especially in children is a world away. With the commercials of the starving African children who have lost there parents to AIDS, to the Chinese orphan whose parents were forced to give them up. It was not until I read Almost Home that I myself, who has traveled and helped those AID stricken children in Africa, recognized the pain in our own communities. Kevin Ryan and Tina Kelley collaborated on this project to open America's eyes to the immense pain these children are facing. The authors highlight the lives of five teenagers, and into there adulthood, on their journey, which at some point found them in one of the shelter homes around America. These particular kids were sheltered at Convent Homes, which have numerous locations around North America.
The theme of this book is the life's a roller coaster. They show these kids life's go from bad to worse to good and back down in the dumps. The Convent Home is a the rock for many to hold them up at the top of there hill, not falling into the pits of drugs, prostitution, and drinking. The people's lives displayed in the book show the ever changing world those with addiction live in and they want us citizens to know it's there.
The authors used a straight forward, to the point style of writing, which worked well. The authors spoke not only with the person who had been in the shelter home but also with mentors who had helped them along the way. This helped keep the book interesting, and not get stuck in a boring hum. The authors were also very consistent, giving equal amount of space for each individuals story. This effect added to the strength of the purpose, showing us the child stricken poverty in North America.
I loved this book. The story of how one of the boys went from being homeless and addicted to an amazingly supportive guidance counselor was inspiring. It helped show the effectiveness of the Convent Homes, making the book more real in my eyes.

[Pamela Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I finished reading Almost Home: Helping Kids Move from Homelessness to Hope, hurricane Sandy has devastated the east coast right in the areas that Covenant House has shelters for the homeless teen population. I keep getting updates on what an extra hardship this has caused and what they need immediately to keep the doors open. The disaster has put an emphasis on what happens to kids who live on our streets. This book puts a face on children who have been abused, abandoned and preyed upon. These kids, our kids, have slipped through the cracks and are floundering just out of sight.

Almost Home sheds a light on the lives of 6 young people who let us look at what landed them alone on the streets of the United States and Canada, and how the volunteers and staff at Covenant House give them a safe place to sort through the challenges they face to attaining a successful future. Kevin Ryan and Tina Kelley have written a story balancing profound sadness with the sprinkling of hope. They also end their book with ideas on how you can make a difference in a child’s life, right where you are. 5 stars for a well told, informative and enlightening account. This is a great gift for teachers, social workers, those in ministry, and families that have a heart for helping children. There’s an extra bonus to purchasing this book; money from the sales go to help Covenant House continue their outreach here in North America, and also in South America.

[koiboy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good book. I didn't like the way it was written—felt the authors did not know proper writing and the structure of the book was choppy. A lot of names and stories to remember; toward the end the authors would go back and forth between two characters' lives and it became confusing. Asked myself, "Who the hell is [name], again?" too many times.

The subject matter was good, however, and it made me more aware of homelessness in Northern America.

I'm not sure if the authors intended this book to be like a big advertisement—the never really "showed off" their establishment of the Covenant House, the connection of homeless youth shelters in which one author is president of—but I got this impression, especially at the end, where I was prompted to take action regarding homeless youth and to join groups, such as their Covenant House.

Overall, it was a compelling read despite the fact that I did not particularly enjoy it.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspirational book (2012) about "making a difference," helping kids move from homelessness to hope. This book tells the true story of 6 kids and their struggle to find their place in society with the help of Covenant House, the largest charity serving homeless, trafficked and and runaway youth in the Americas. A must read for anyone who cares about the future of our society.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it, very inspirational, and makes you think about your life and be grateful for the way it is.

[Polly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Opens my eyes to the reality that surrounds us. Has prompted me to search and learn about the resources available in my area to keep handy.

[Eman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for work, but I'm adding it here b/c it's a great introduction to all of the issues surrounding youth homelessness in America.

[CTEP]

For January Book Club I read Almost Home by Kevin Ryan, who leads Covenant House, an international charity devoted to serving homeless youth. In cold winter months like these (though I hope sincerely we never have another one quite like this January) I find myself wondering how people without a stable roof over their head survive. This book tells the stories of various youth that have benefited from the services Covenant House provides to youth in six different countries.

What I liked most about this book was that while the stories of youth were told, they were intertwined with discussion on the systems that make their stories so common and so varied. It delves into the issues in the foster care system, trafficking, drug dependencies, and neglect but they all seem to stem from issues of poverty.

The covenant aspect of Covenant House is that all residents must adhere to some rules, including no drug or alcohol use, a strict curfew and some chores that must be completed around the building. Additionally, you can leave at any time. I think that has to be one of the most difficult aspects of working in that environment, seeing potential progress thrown away because of the lure of drugs or the money made as a sex worker. Each of the youth documented is a success story, they all came back, committed to the Covenant, found a purpose and became self-sufficient individuals.

Each of the people discussed went through in incredible amount of suffering, including prison, abuse, and neglect to get to the point where they believed, as Covenant House says, that each person is beautiful and everyone deserves to be loved and cared for. How many kids just give up? What about those kids that never reach the point where they understand their worth?

This book was an interesting read as I learned a lot about the “whys” and “hows” of the systems that lead to so many homeless youth. Last year I mentored at PPL with a 9 year old who’s family had been chronically homeless for much of her life. She struggled in school, she struggled with forming healthy relationships with peers and she struggled with authority. We fought a lot. I wish I would have spent more time just letting her take the lead, letting her control her own decisions while I just listened. Instead we have to focus on getting her reading to grade level, which I am not disparaging because I do believe that her stress at school caused much of her resulting behavioral issues, but there should have been more time for the relationship and confidence building aspect, much like what they instill at Covenant House.

I don’t think I ever explain these books as well as I could, but I do feel that I benefited from reading Almost Home.

[Emily Jo Spinelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost Home tells the story of six young adults and their journey from homelessness to independence. Each young adult made their way through Covenant House, which is the largest organization of youth homeless shelters in the U.S. and Canada. Many people do not realize how many homeless youth live in the U.S., let alone the many factors that cause youth to be homeless in the first place. These six stories are real and personal, and address many different reasons why each youth became homeless in the first place, as well as the general struggle of living in poverty.

In addition to providing personal stories, this book is well researched and provides many statistics about homelessness, poverty, the foster care system, sex-trafficking, etc. It also provides practical suggestions for tackling this problem as a society and tells the stories of people who work for Covenant House. Many people have taken on the challenge of loving and providing for these youth every day. And ultimately, there is hope.

[Debby Chang · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a hard read but incredibly helpful, especially if you continuously remind yourself that the stories you are hearing are real and happened to real people. I'd love more books like these to be published, especially in audiobook form where the voices make the stories all the more vibrant. My key takeaways were to just be present, consistent and loving as much as you can if working with the homeless youth population. A really important theme was the power of feeling that there's people in your life that will never give up on you.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

A reminder how much our fellow brothers and sisters may go through, even as children and what we can do to help.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the most beautifully written book, but the anecdotes are moving and the work is so important. (Also, for a faith-based charity, the book is light on religious talk, which I appreciated since I was previewing it for my school library.)

[Kaeley Little · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Almost Home" by Kevin Ryan was a very eye opening book. It was the story of seven different individuals trying to change their lives for the better. They all have a different story and are trying to improve certain things about themselves. Every person in this story had to overcome an obstacle. They had to prove to themselves and the people around them that they were able to not fall under the pressure of bad influence. That is why I think the author wrote this book. He wanted to show that there are people out there that have been put down by other people but were able to get back up and keep fighting. He wanted to prove that everybody has potential and can be successful if they put their mind to it. That is what I think Kevin Ryan's purpose was for writing "Almost Home".
I believe that the theme of "Almost Home" is to never give up and to be your own motivator. All of the people in this book reached a point in their lives where they did not think they could push any further. They thought they had fallen so hard that they could not get back up. But, they overcame the odds and kept fighting. They fought for what they believed was right and did not ever give up. They had all seen themselves hit that low in their and they never wanted to have to go back to that. They knew how much it hurt and how much it made them hate themselves. Although it was hard to be in that low, it motivated them and kept pushing them. I believe this is the novels theme.
"Almost Home" was written in the style narration. An event would occur, then there would a result. An example of this would be a woman is homeless. Therefore, she would not be able to feed her child. I believe that this style was effective when writing this novel. I believe that it was effective because it made the story very easy to understand. That is the style this book was written in.
My opinion of "Almost Home" is that it was very well written. I felt like I was really able to grasp the story and its meaning. I think that is very important for an author to be able connect the story with the reader. I overall enjoyed the book and the stories that were told within it. There is not any one specific thing that I disliked or would have wanted to changed about the book. This book is not really a genre that I usually read or want to read, so it was very different. I have not read a book similar to this one. Those are my thoughts on the book "Almost Home" by Kevin Ryan.

[Haley]

Almost Home, written by Kevin Ryan was an very touching book. It was the story of seven homeless individuals trying to change their lives and create a better situation for themselves. They all have a different story and they all want to change their lives and make sure they do the best they could in life. Every single girl and boy in this story had to overpower an obstacle. They had to show to not only themselves but also the people around them that they were not about to give into all the bad influences. I believe the author wanted to show that not everyone is born with everything.Some people are born with absolutely nothing but they build themselves up to be a better person and accomplish amazing things for themselves.
I believe that the theme of Almost Home is to never give up no matter how hard things get. All of the people in this book reached a point in their lives where they did not think they could keep going. They thought it was over for them and that there was nothing in the world that could change their path in life. But, they kept fighting to get to a place they wanted. They had all sunk to that low in their, which I am sure everyone has, but unlike most people they never wanted to have to go back to that. They knew how much it hurt and how much it made them hate themselves. Although it was hard to be in that low of a place, it just motivated them even more and kept them going.
I believe the story was written as a narration. An example of this would be a woman is homeless. Therefore, she would not be able to feed her child. I believe that this style was effective when writing this novel. I believe that it was effective because it made the story very easy to understand. I believe that the style this story was written in helped add to the emotional aspect as well.
In my opinion Almost Home was written very well. I felt like I was really able to connect with the people the story is about. I think it is very important for an author to be able to write a story that the reader is able to connect with. I really enjoyed the book and the stories that were told. I liked that I was able to really connect with the people in the story. It really made me think about everything I have and made me realize how blessed I really am. There was not one thing I did not like about this story. In fact I wish the author would have included more stories.

[Sandy H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading several books on homelessness to prepare for an upcoming event that addresses this issue from a Christian perspective. This book stands as one of my favorites so far. Although unabashedly a book highlighting the work of Covenant House itself, it successfully weaves stories of homeless youth with statistics to bring greater understanding of the unique circumstances surrounding the issue of homeless youth. Woven throughout, but with a specific chapter dedicated to the topic at the end, are suggestions for how readers can get involved as advocates, mentors, foster families, or raising awareness in one's community, church, or online social networks.

Some books that highlight work of a particular organization or individual in the guise of being educational don't pull it off. The topic gets lost in the self-aggrandizing of the organization or individual. This book never, ever felt like that to me. It simply felt like an organization that has particular experience and wisdom to share because of its mission, and by sharing that experience and wisdom the organization hopes to add something to the discussion in general--not simply get financial support (although, to be clear, that is referenced at the end).

I got a lot out of reading this book and will be suggesting it at the top of my list of recommended reading for participants in our upcoming event.

[Madeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost Home tells the story of six individuals that eventually find their way to Covenant House. Covenant House saved their lives in one way or another. This book really shed light on what homeless young adults go through. Many have unstable home lives and get into drugs at very young ages.

Paulie is no exception. He got into drugs at the age of fourteen and his mother left his father for a man she met online. He continued to struggle in his every day life, and he felt like he had no where to turn. He eventually moves in with his mother and her new family in Canada, but he still feels like he doesn't belong. Not too long after he arrives, he gets all his belongings and goes back to his home town in Palmer, Alaska. He dropped out of high school and continued to get into trouble. He eventually finds his way to Covenant House where he finishes high school and turns his life around. This is just one of the true inspirational stories in Almost Home.

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most moving non-fiction book I have ever read. This book completely changed my perception of homeless youth. By sharing the deeply personal and often tragic stories of several different young people from across the US and Canada, this book shows them as they really are, as people. Almost Home teaches that homeless youth are not just numbers or case files or nameless faces. They are people with hopes, dreams, aspirations and feelings who through no fault of their own had been given up on. Overwhelmingly, however, the book is a story of hope, showing that these kids deserve to be saved, and they can be, if organizations like Covenant House and people just like us continue to have compassion, to believe in their potential and to treat them with the respect that potential deserves and not what our fear dictates. An absolute must-read.

[Victoria (hotcocoaandbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been fond of what Covenant House does for a few years and wanted to get some further insight as I know they work with human trafficking victims regularly. This helped me understand a lot more about homelessness with teenagers and how Covenant House helps house, mentor, educate, and giv job opportunities to the many children and young adults who have had tough lives on the streets.

This book gives accounts of a few kids who have since thrived from their days at Covenant House. Some were foster kids, others were abandoned by their parents or were adopted at some point, a few were abused in some way or witnessed abuse in their homes. It was nice to see how there is hope for those who have had bad situations.

[Eric Prentice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great read! It took me forever to finish only because I work at a youth shelter and I got very irritated read the gaps these youth fell through as well as the constant declaration of inappropriate practice from the workers. Also when I was reading it I felt like I was at work so I dragged it out.

Overall a great read. Made me really feel for these people and the writer provided a fantastic picture of the lives these youth lived as well as the skills of the staff were very clear. I would recommend this to any person thinking of entering the human service sector to work with homeless and at risk youth. This is also just a great eye opening read for any general person with a big heart wanting to learn more about youth who struggle with homelessness.

[Kelli · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book tells the stories of several homeless kids who showed up at various Covenant House facilities in the US. After each biography, the rest of the chapter is about facts and statistics regarding homeless children. I think the book is best suited for those who are in the Social Services industry or interested in working in a facility that helps homeless children.

[Jenny K · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much information about homeless teens in the US! This book is honest about what life was like for the 6 kids who are featured, but there is also so much hope. And time and time again, their success comes back to a personal desire to change their lives and a stable adult who was willing to root for them and guide them through all their pitfalls.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I really wanted to like this book, I did not. It was not well written and the stories were too dis-jointed. It tried to intersperse facts with the stories instead of telling the story and then giving the facts or statistics associated with child trafficking, or whatever the subject was involved in. Big miss when it could have been more effectively written.

[Debbie Keen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for my CASA work. It tells the story of 6 youths who were helped by Covenant House, a shelter for homeless teens and young adults. Founded by Jesuits (I think), there are shelters in many large American cities. Each of these kids began to make smarter choices once they allowed a mentor to guide them. It is all about a connection to someone.

[Carrie Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first year that I've taught this book to seniors. The kids were very moved by the stories and I think it helped to break a lot of stereotypes concerning poverty and homelessness. It also lead to a very rewarding project where the kids will be offering their services to a non-profit organization of their choosing.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't find this book compelling or inspirational. The author appeared locally earlier in the year, and I feel like my book club felt compelled to select it as a reading selection.
The situations and statistics are sad, but I didn't feel any long term solutions were presented.

[LigaRyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wouldn't say this is the most well written or original book I have ever read, but that didn't matter to me because the stories are so important. It also meant a lot to me because I've been following the work of Covenant house for many years.