Beyond ballet: music, memories, and motivation at The Nutcracker
This past December, a group of guests at Brother Francis Shelter had the opportunity to attend The Nutcracker at Atwood Hall – an event which left a lasting impression on many of those who attended. One guest in particular saw the importance of the event for his fellow guests from the very beginning. LaVont worked…
3rd Avenue Resource & Navigation Center: Where permanent stability begins
Providers and residents across our community have taken a renewed focus on the issues of housing and homelessness, working hard to meet the needs of our neighbors. Through years of experience and the collaboration between partners, we know that the answer to homelessness is complex, requiring a place to connect all levels of care. Basic…
Helping Holidays donors spread cheer in their community
On a dark, frigid morning early this December, Berta Gardner (pictured above), walked into Catholic Social Services’ main center bearing gifts, a smile, and plenty of holiday cheer! While handing her Helping Holidays gifts over to staff, Berta mentioned she was ‘very proud of her grandchildren’ for choosing to opt out of Christmas gifts and…
Thank you for making this year’s Grow Local, Give Local campaign a success
Every June, Refugee Assistance & Immigration Services (RAIS) teams up with St. Francis House Food Pantry for our annual Grow Local, Give Local campaign. During Grow Local, Give Local, donors like you support the livelihoods of refugee farmers in the Fresh International Gardens (FIG) co-op by purchasing produce they’ve grown and donating it directly to…
Brother Francis Shelter will provide 40 new emergency shelter beds for our community
As colder weather arrives, our community is working to expand its emergency shelter capacity. As part of this effort, Brother Francis Shelter is adding 40 beds, bringing the maximum capacity up to 120 guests, made possible by Alcohol Tax Funding. Brother Francis Shelter will not be expanding its capacity any farther than 120 guests and…
Catholic Social Services opens new shelter in Anchorage, providing 83 new beds for homeless
Catholic Social Services accomplished a milestone on June 6 with the help of all of you and many incredible partners. Together, we added 83 new beds to the shelter system at a time when it’s most needed. Thanks to so much hard work from our team, Complex Care at 303 W. Fireweed in Anchorage opened,…
Providing shelter for mothers and children, adults, and medically fragile individuals
With the addition of Complex Care, Catholic Social Services now provides more than 200 beds to Anchorage’s homelessness response network to make sure everyone who needs support can find it. Together with Clare House, Brother Francis Shelter, and Medical Respite, Complex Care broadens our network of services to support people experiencing homelessness at every stage…
Anchorage needs a low-barrier walk-in shelter
For the first time in 40 years, Anchorage doesn’t have a low-barrier walk-up shelter. Closing the Sullivan Arena without another option has left our city in crisis. For hundreds of our neighbors, safe emergency shelter is now impossible to find. CSS is doing everything we can. We opened Complex Care, Clare House and Brother Francis…
Complex Care is the first of its kind, the result of decades of experience and learning
Complex Care provides the chance to demonstrate the benefits of smaller, specialized shelters, thanks to our partners: Calista Corporation, Chugach Alaska Corporation, Doyon, Limited, the Municipality of Anchorage, Providence Health & Services, Rasmuson Foundation, and Weidner Apartment Homes. In the 55 years that Catholic Social Services has served our community, we’ve learned a lot about…
Complex Care provides supportive environment for medically fragile individuals
With the help of generous funding partners, Catholic Social Services adds 83 more beds to Anchorage’s shelter capacity and helps reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness in our community. On a sunny afternoon in Complex Care, Tommy (green jacket) sits next to the large windows in the communal kitchen, enjoying the sunshine and watching…