Darryl Henry says the most valuable thing he's gotten from Covenant House was the help to help himself.
As one of the nonprofit's Housing First participants, Henry told attendees at a news conference Monday that he wouldn't be around today if it wasn't for the assistance and kindness he received from Covenant House, which works to provide the chronically homeless with basic needs.
"I was one of those people standing out there on the street corner, bumming change," Henry said. "They taught me to how budget my money and live within my means."
A study released by Covenant House on Monday outlines the economic impact and community contributions of its services over the last three fiscal years.
"A really important aspect of the study is that when you look at it in the big picture context, this is a nonprofit that strengthens our entire community through the services it provides," said Dan Lattanzi, board president of Covenant House.
A look at the organization's expenditure data from 2013 to 2015 shows that its annual direct spending is more than $1.2 million, which includes personnel and professional services, equipment and supplies and operational costs.
The total economic output that can be attributed to Covenant House's operations within the Charleston area is $1.65 million.
The additional $443,000 comes from various multiplier effects, such as the measure of employee income spent in the local economy, according to the report.
That means every dollar spent directly by Covenant House results in an additional 37 cents in economic activity.
Lattanzi added that 83 percent of the funding that comes into Covenant House is reinvested back into the community through its programs.
State Sens. Corey Palumbo, D-Kanawha, and Chris Walters, R-Putnam, praised the nonprofit for its efforts to reduce homelessness in the Charleston area.
Covenant House Executive Director Ellen Allen said the state's budget shortfall and continued population loss are a concern for the nonprofit, which relies heavily on private donations.
Nearly $450,000 of its $1.2 million in total revenues came from private contributions, according to Covenant House's annual report.
In fiscal 2015, the nonprofit also received $607,000 in federal funding - much of which is allocated through the state Department of Health and Human Resources.
Allen said the organization, as a member of a local coalition, helps leverage more than $1 million in federal housing funds into Charleston and the greater Kanawha Valley.
Over the last year, Covenant House has helped 48 homeless people find permanent housing.
For Henry, who moved into his own apartment with the nonprofit's help, life is much more peaceful these days.
"I'm no longer a problem - I'm a solution to the problem," he said.
An additional 619 people living below the poverty line received direct housing assistance to secure or maintain permanent housing, including more than 300 living with HIV/AIDS.
More than 1,700 people also received emergency financial assistance to help avoid eviction and create housing stabilization.
Reach Elaina Sauber at elaina.sauber@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-3051 or follow @ElainaSauber on Twitter.