Investing in homeless services makes sense
Author: Gary FergusonOpinion: Michael FredericksPublished May 3 by the Anchorage Daily News Homelessness is a shared problem in our communities across the state of Alaska. Together, we need to support and expand on solutions that work, to invest in the future of our state.
Making a difference on homelessness begins with how we see people
Driving through Anchorage it’s possible not to see people. Not all people, of course — we’d still see our siblings or our neighbors. But through practice and repetition, we’ve attained a lamentable talent of clouding our vision. It acts as a buffer to our conscience: We see not a person, but a category: “the homeless.”
Be Positive, Think Positively
Terry works at Catholic Social Services for Homeless Family Services. She is a caseworker who oversees people receiving assistance due to chronic homelessness associated with a documented disability. She met Debbie almost 12 years ago at one of our partnering agencies. At that time, Terry helped Debbie move off the streets, into her first home, and stay there. Back…
Teaming Up for Below 10
Two weekends ago, Lisa, our Executive Director, was home on a Saturday night when she got a call from the Executive Director at Bean’s Cafe. Since December 20, it had been running an emergency cold weather shelter, thanks to funding from the Municipality of Anchorage, as back-up to Brother Francis Shelter until April 30. With temperatures in the…
Celebrate Christmas Eve Mass at Brother Francis Shelter
Around Catholic Social Services, everyone knows Deacon Mick, but he seems surprised by that. Sitting at his desk at the Archdiocese of Anchorage, in a dark burgundy, button-up shirt with starched white cuffs and collar, the first question he asked was, “So who recommended you talk to me?” Deacon Mick has spent years dedicated to…
Brother Francis Shelter Changed a Father’s Life, Then a Son’s, and Now a City’s
Jessie sat, hands clasped, at a table in our conference room to talk about his job. He is a caseworker for Path to Independence, a program within Homeless Family Services. He’s been doing that since August. At first, he and his coworker, Wesley, did the legwork to prepare to rapidly rehouse 40 families. Things quickly…
Phillip Found Hope
So many people’s homelessness begins with the death of a loved one. Cancer. Car accident. Suicide. Tragedy can strike us all. The person closest to the deceased is left reeling, and we each cope with grief differently. Phillip’s wife passed in 2010. He looks you in the eyes when he says that. She had a…
Thank You, Wells Fargo!
Today, we received $100,000 from Wells Fargo. We are grateful to have been selected as one of the 50 nonprofits Wells Fargo chose as recipients of their Housing Foundation’s Priority Markets Program. Because of Wells Fargo’s generous support along with the generous support of Weidner Apartment Homes, The Rasmuson Foundation, and Cook Inlet Housing Authority,…
Stephanie’s Resilience
Just because something is cliché does not mean it’s false. Stephanie, a former AmeriCorps Homelessness Housing Coordinator, has a smile that lights up a room. It’s no wonder her clients loved working with her. Stephanie joined Catholic Social Services’ team in October 2017, serving out her year in AmeriCorps with us. Although she’s a Cordon Bleu…
A Time for New Beginnings
Wright Picks Up The Pieces Wright, a 66-year-old Navy veteran and retiree, was able to support himself, but after his surgery he fell on hard times. A year ago, Wright walked around without an issue. However, problems from diabetes and habitual drinking caught up to him. His foot began to shake non-stop with throbbing pain,…