NEW ORLEANS (WGNO)- Hundreds of homeless youth in New Orleans have no choice but to spend the night on the streets.

Covenant House is trying to make a difference by holding a “Sleep Out” to support the homeless youth.

Life on the streets…not really a life at all.

“Life on the streets was hard.  Nowhere to go,” 22-year old, “Mike” who stays at Covenant House, said.

“Mike” knew his life was meant for something more.

“Being on the street, getting in trouble in the neighborhood, I decided I needed to make a change, and become a better man,”  he said.

He found that better life at Covenant House, which is a crisis center for homeless youth between the ages of 16-22.

“My new life is great.  Job placement, help with an apartment, great food, and basically they take care of you,”  he said.

In order to help take care of kids like “Mike”, Covenant House is putting on an important fundraiser known as “Sleep Out”.

150 community and business leaders will sleep on the sidewalk in front of Covenant House and in the courtyard to show solidarity and support for the homeless youth.

“We want to show solidarity and raise awareness for our kids and at the same time raise necessary funds.  These kids really are the most vulnerable citizens in our community,”  Richard Arnold, Director of Development & Communications at Covenant House said.

With “Sleep Out”, you can sponsor one of the “sleepers”.  The money raised goes to the kids for food, clothing, shelter, and services to help them get their lives back on track.

“They want us to be successful and that’s why I want to be future director of Covenant House someday,”  Mike said.

For more information on how you can help with “Sleep Out”, click HERE:

“Sleep Out” is scheduled for Thursday, November 19th, which coincides with National Youth Homeless Awareness Week.