It’s a cold winter night in Anchorage. Because of a caring coalition, fewer children are sleeping outside or in a car this evening.
Led by United Way, more than 20 organizations joined together and found a safe solution for families who sleep outside during the winter and to provide the resources they need to build self-sufficiency.
Their mission:
“To ensure that no family with children sleeps in an unsafe place during the coldest months of the year.”
Their partners include AWAIC, Alaska 2-1-1, American Red Cross, Anchorage City Church, Anchorage Community Mental Health Services, Anchorage School District – Child in Transition, Catholic Social Services, Central Lutheran Church, Changepoint Alaska, Christian Health Associates, The Coalition to End Homelessness, Cornerstone Church, Covenant House, First Presbyterian Church, Love INC, Muldoon Community Assembly, Municipality of Anchorage, NeighborWorks Anchorage, Providence Health & Services-In-Home Services, Safe Harbor Inn, The Salvation Army, and Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church.
Through a collaboration with the 211 call center, AWAIC and United Way provide transportation services to seven sleeping facilities managed by the faith-based community. Run by over 100 volunteers, these facilities provide emergency shelter seven nights a week. In addition, other organizations have been providing case management services to these families, enabling them to get the help they need to achieve stability.
In 2015 donors like you supported this effort through The Alaska Community Foundation’s “Fund for the Homeless.” a Field-of-Interest fund designed to meet the ever-changing needs of Alaskans without a permanent place to stay. These field-of-interest funds allow ACF to make discretionary grants to important, collaborative projects such as “Beyond Shelter”, and support valuable community partnerships. ACF connects donors with high-impact, collaborative activities to help donors multiply the impact of their giving.