Building Confidence and Celebrating Difference at CHC Oakland

Whether she’s complementing a youth’s new hairstyle or teaching a Do-It-Yourself workshop, Rahsandrea Johnson loves helping the youth at CHC build confidence.

“I like to build their confidence because it starts within,” she said. “I definitely had people around me that had to build that confidence within me. So, I like to be the joy – to let people know that it’s okay that you are different.”

Rahsandrea, CHC – Oakland’s Residential Manager, grew up in the home of her great-grandma, “Lil Mama”, with lots of family around. “Everything came out of Lil Mama’s house, from baking to gardening,” Rahsandrea remembers, and she appreciated “having that chance to be creative because you had a hub or had a home – somewhere to be.”

Now, Rahsandrea helps create that “somewhere to be” for hundreds of young people each year. She brings an extensive background in empowering youth, women, and survivors, having worked in several previous roles facilitating classes for youth on leadership, healthy relationships, and sexual violence prevention. As a facilitator of CHC’s onsite women’s group, Rahsandrea continues to work alongside youth to imagine and create a more equitable and healthier world. In a recent session, she invited a Black female doctor to discuss feminine reproductive health with our youth; for upcoming sessions, she is giving the floor to the youth to lead teach-ins on topics they are passionate and knowledgeable about. “Now they have the chance to stand up in front of their peers and be that person that’s leading the group or that person that is giving some knowledge.”

Rahsandrea started in an entry-level position at CHC, before becoming a case manager, and now helping the shelter as a whole and “problem solving on another level” as Residential Manager. Throughout it all, our community has been grateful to be around Rahsandrea’s consistent positivity, empathy, and kindness.

“I just like to have a good time, so if I can bring a good time for the residents, I’m gonna try my hardest,” she said.

A Force of Resilience and Compassion at CHC Hollywood

This Women’s History Month, we celebrate the incredible women who make Covenant House California a place of hope and transformation – including Maria Cruz, a dedicated member of our housekeeping team at CHC – Los Angeles for nearly 15 years.

Maria’s journey to CHC started 16 years ago when she left Oaxaca, Mexico for the U.S., fleeing domestic violence and seeking a better future for her three children. Just two years later, she found the Cov, and has been a steady presence for our young people ever since.

Over her decade and a half working at CHC, Maria has seen many waves of young people and had countless conversations and moments of connection. Over time, her perspective and her understanding of the youth she serves has deepened.

“A lot of people have thoughts that the youth have failed or are lazy, but it’s not like that, you don’t really know what each person is going through,” Maria said. “Sometimes it’s family – it can be a variety of situations. Not everyone realizes that people need different types of support.”

Maria herself has served as an essential and unique source of support for generations of young people, and that has, in turn, made an impact on her own life.

“Because you’re directly working with youth, you reflect on what a young person might go through – when they’re missing their family, missing their mom. It’s an opportunity that you wouldn’t get to see anywhere else,” Maria said. “From what you see the youth experiencing, you’re able to reflect on your own family and their experience.”

For many years, one of Maria’s sons was battling addiction and homelessness in Mexico. “I was able to have a new understanding of what he went through,” she said. At one point, Maria said that her son, Porfirio Javier Antonio, was at a lower point than many of the young people she works with at the Cov. The understanding and perspective that Maria gained at CHC helped her better support her son, who has now, thankfully, overcome his struggles with substance use and homelessness. Currently, Porfirio is working for an organization in Mexico, Jesus House Oaxaca, that helps the unhoused. As part of this work, he performs music that uplifts individuals through faith, outreach and community.

For Maria, the impact of her work extends far beyond keeping CHC safe and clean. And as her and her team uplift the dignity, health, and safety of our young people, she knows that this impact has ripple effects on entire communities.

Above: Maria’s son, Porfirio, performing in Oaxaca, Mexico at an event for his organization which, like CHC, supports individuals experiencing homelessness and substance use.

Guiding Light at CHC Anaheim

Gabby Deloza was a single mom working full time as a medical assistant when she first heard about an opening for a Youth Engagement Specialist (YES staff) at CHC – Anaheim. She took the part-time job and before long worked her way to a full-time position, while continuing to maintain her job in pediatric healthcare.

Gabby finally made the courageous decision to dedicate herself full time to the Cov, where she knew she could make a profound impact, supporting young people as they work to overcome homelessness and human trafficking. And to her, CHC – Anaheim, a unique shelter and sanctuary in a converted house, felt like a second home.

Nearly two years later, Gabby is a driving force behind the warm, welcoming environment at CHC. On her evening shifts once a week from 2-11 pm, Gabby often leads activities, including rock painting or karaoke nights, bringing the house to life and filling it with joy.

But Gabby’s background extends beyond activities – her personal journey allows her to relate to the youth she serves. As a former teen Mom who navigated challenges of working multiple full-time jobs and overcoming systemic barriers, she provides a unique perspective and unwavering support for youth going through similar challenges.

“Some particular youth on my case load do have kids, and I can share that I was a teen mom, too,” Gabby said. “We can relate a lot because I’ve gone through it, I’ve gone through the whole system as well. So we bond a lot – I’m able to share that with them.”

At CHC – Anaheim, Gabby isn’t just a staff member — she’s a mentor, a role model, and a source of unwavering support for youth on their journey to stability and success. We are incredibly grateful for her passion, resilience, and heart in making CHC a place where young people can find hope and a path forward.

Building Trust and Community at CHC Santa Clara

For Najma Sadiq, a Residential Manager at Covenant House California Santa Clara, the most rewarding part of her work is earning the trust of the young people she serves- especially the young parents.

One moment stands out…when a young mother let Najma hold her baby for the first time.

“As I was holding him, I was like, “she trusts us. Because this is her child.’”

For Najma, trust is everything. It is one of the most fulfilling parts of this work to be their go-to person and safe space.

“When those trust gates do open, it’s magical,“ she shared. “Just being able to be that go-to person for them – when their parents aren’t there for them or their siblings, or their friends… to be that go-to that’s just like ‘hey, I need to vent, I need to cuss, I need to cry,’ and knowing that I’m here for them in that capacity – is what keeps me going.”

Before joining CHC, Najma was a middle school teacher, driven by her own experience of having only a handful of teachers who truly impacted her life.

“I always said I wanted to be that one person for somebody, which is why I fell into teaching. But I feel like that really correlates with the work that I do now.”

At CHC-Santa Clara, Najma fosters community and joy in every way she can – from hosting arts and crafts sessions to bringing her Harry Potter fandom to the community through projector movie nights in our beautiful courtyard. Having served in several different roles at the Cov, from case manager to community involvement coordinator, Najma has been able to both work closely one-on-one with youth, and also engage community members, like you.

Her biggest hope? That more people take the time to visit CHC-Santa Clara and see the strength and resilience of the young people firsthand.

“I feel like Santa Clara is just so special, and the community that we’ve built over the last – it’s going on four years now – is so unique that I would just implore everyone to come visit if they can,” Najma said. “Come stop by for a tour, meet our young people because whatever idea [you] have of what homelessness looks like, I can guarantee that none of our young people fit that.”

For now, Najma is looking forward to one more milestone – when the newest newborn at the Cov starts talking and she can officially be “Auntie Naj”.