GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A Grand Rapids shelter held a candlelight vigil Thursday night to raise awareness of youth homelessness across the state and the country.

Covenant House, which has 34 locations across the country and two in Michigan, serves young people. It works to offer the stability they need to change their circumstances and move forward with their lives.

Thursday evening’s vigil featured stories of those who are staying at their facility, those who have moved on and staff members. Dozens in the community also gathered to sing songs and light candles for the youth.

Klear Davis, 25, told News 8 that he had been homeless for much of his young adult life. It was not until he walked into Covenant House that he was able to turn his life around.

“I guarantee you that most, if not all of them inside of that building have been through what I have been through, if not worse. And they had to come out of it one way or another, so they are trying to push that on the youth,” Davis said. “You can’t help anybody else without helping yourself, and no one is going to help you unless you help yourself.”

Covenant House shelters around 2,300 young adults across the country on any given night.

About one month ago, Davis left Covenant House after he was able to find permanent housing.  He is now living in his new apartment with his best friend. He said he has a new perspective and a new goal, living his life to the fullest.

“Look at where I am now in the matter of a month. Anything is possible, anything in the world is possible,” he said. “It’s living now, not surviving as I was before. I can finally see the hope inside my future.”

As candlelight filled the night sky, speakers said it represented more than just light in darkness — it represented hope for the youth.