One man’s journey from Puerto Rico to Brother Francis Shelter
“These people, from the time I came here – they have opened doors for me, they are very nice with me.” – Daniel, commenting on his stay at Brother Francis Shelter. Daniel came to Alaska this spring, hauling a trailer, food service know-how, and plenty of hope. He had completed the last leg of a…
Anchorage needs more low-barrier shelter to uphold the dignity of our neighbors
In an article from the ADN, it was announced that the Sullivan Arena will return to its regular operations in the near future and will not be used as emergency shelter this coming winter. As a community, we are continuing to navigate the repercussions of an ongoing, critical lack of low-barrier shelter to service our…
Legislature approval of state IDs for people leaving prison will have positive effects for our community
Personal identification documents are an often overlooked, but integral part of navigating modern life. They are so essential, yet so ubiquitous as we navigate from day to day, that we can sometimes forget all of the different activities we use them for. For example, you need an ID to rent a house or to apply…
A Young Family Builds Hope through Financial Stability
“There was housing, they made sure I was in a safe environment, they checked in on my mental health – if I needed clothing or any necessities they were very, very generous with the things they provided.” – Kahlee, a former guest, after her stay at Clare House. Kahlee and her little boy, Atticus, fell…
Health and Wellbeing Through Art
Sister Lucia believes the beauty of art is only half the reward; the other half is tending to the human spirit. By encouraging guests to pick up a pencil or brush and begin creating, Sister Lucia has initiated a healing journey for many of the guests at Brother Francis Shelter, Complex Care, and Clare House….
Slavic Baking with Soul: A Ukrainian woman’s small business is embraced by the Anchorage community
Anzhela Hulchuk, or Angela as she is known here in the U.S., moved to the United States with her family 10 months ago as a refugee from the war in Ukraine. Despite this huge upheaval in her life, Angela let her love of baking and entrepreneurial spirit lead her to find stability for her family….
Providing Stability to new neighbors through family mentorship
Permanent stability is more than providing basic needs. A focus on long-term needs social and emotional wellbeing through programs like RAIS Family Mentorship provides clients the tools and resources to thrive in their new home. In FY22, RAIS helped to resettle 276 new arrivals – the majority of which arrived from Ukraine or Afghanistan. Thanks…
A Rapid Rehousing Success Story
Contributed by Michael Hollinger, Case Manager at Brother Francis Shelter “I know all these mountains just by looking at them,” my client tells me as we drive to see a potential apartment through Cook Inlet Housing Authority (CIHA). “Where to make shelter. Where to survive.” I enjoy listening to him share about growing up in…
We’re moving!
Catholic Social Services is moving its main office to 4600 Debarr Road, effective late March and early April. With your help, Catholic Social Services has seen tremendous growth over the last few years in the services we’re able to provide to our neighbors in need and strengthen our community. To support this growth, we need…
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…