MAT-SU YOUTH HOUSING

BELOW ARE SOME OF MY HOUSE'S ACHIEVEMENTS AS OF FYE 12/31/2023: SERVED AN AVERAGE OF 98 CLIENTS PER WEEK WITH FOOD, CLOTHING, SHOWERS, LAUNDRY, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND WRAP-AROUND SERVICES. THIS IS ALL DONE WITH A STAFF OF TWO FULL-TIME AND TWO PART-TIME CASE MANAGERS, ONE FULL-TIME NAVIGATOR AND TWO SUPPORT STAFF THAT INCLUDES A HOUSING CASE MANAGER WHO COORDINATES VOUCHERS AND HELPS WITH MOVES TO TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. WE ENDED THE YEAR WITH 34 BEDS OF TRANSITIONAL CLIENT HOUSING. SPECIALIZED HOUSE DESIGNATIONS PROVIDE A SAFE PLACE FOR CLIENTS WHO IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ+, PARENTS WITH CHILDREN, SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THOSE WHO REPORT HAVING BEEN TRAFFICKED. MY HOUSE'S LEGACY FOR-PROFIT BUSINESSES; GATHERING GROUNDS CAF AND STEAMDRIVEN BOUTIQUE PROVIDED JOB TRAINING TO 46 CLIENTS. 27 CLIENTS COMPLETED THE PROGRAM WITH 75% OF THEM EMPLOYED THREE MONTHS LATER. 13 CLIENTS RECEIVED THEIR GED OR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. 40% OF CLIENTS COMING IN THE DOOR HAVE NO HIGH SCHOOL COMPLETION OR GED. SINCE COVID THIS NUMBER HAS INCREASED ANNUALLY. OUR OUTREACH COORDINATOR AND A CASE MANAGER BEGAN PRESENTING NARCAN TRAINING TO THE COMMUNITY. 45% OF CLIENTS IN 2023 SELF-REPORTED SUFFERING FROM DEPRESSION, SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, IDEATIONS, AND/OR HAD ATTEMPTED TAKING THEIR OWN LIVES, SO THIS PROGRAM WAS VITAL AND TIMELY. IN 2023, ONE CLIENT DIED FROM SUICIDE, TWO FORMER CLIENTS DIED FROM OVERDOSE. THE MAT-SU OPIOID TASK FORCE, ESTABLISHED BY MY HOUSE IN 2016, WROTE KELLSIE'S LAW, WHICH PASSED AND MANDATES EDUCATION FOR YOUTH ON THE IMPACT OF DRUGS AND ADDICTION. NARCAN KITS, WHICH PREVENT OPIATE OVERDOSES AND DEATH, ARE DISTRIBUTED BY MY HOUSE AND ONE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS IS CERTIFIED TO PROVIDE TRAINING IN THEIR USE. OUR STAFF DISTRIBUTED 386 KITS IN 2023. THE ALLIANCE TO STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN ALASKA (ASHTA) WHICH IS BASED AT MY HOUSE CONDUCTED 35 AWARENESS & TRAINING PRESENTATIONS ACROSS ALASKA, AND THE ASHTA COORDINATOR IS ACTIVE AS VICE CHAIR OF THE GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON HUMAN AND SEX TRAFFICKING. CONTINUED TO RELEASE CONTENT FOR THE MY HOUSE PODCAST NETWORK: "MY VOICE" WHERE CLIENTS TELL THEIR STORIES. "DIAGNONSENSE" WHICH FOCUSES ON MENTAL HEALTH & SUICIDE PREVENTION. "THE MY HOUSE PODCAST", WHERE OUR CEO HOSTS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PARTNERS, AND DONORS TO DISCUSS OUR WORK WITH HOMELESSNESS, RECOVERY & SOLUTIONS. "REDEMPTION", WHICH FOCUSES ON PREVENTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND ASSISTING SURVIVORS IN RECOVERY, INCLUDING HOUSING, COUNSELING, JOB TRAINING AND ADDITIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES. WE ALSO CREATED MULTIPLE VIDEOS, THAT FEATURED WORK DONE AT MY HOUSE FOR OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL. OPERATED REDEMPTION, A JOB TRAINING PROGRAM THAT SERVES SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING BY PROVIDING A SAFE SPACE TO LEARN DESIGN, MANUFACTURING, MERCHANDISING, AND RETAIL SALES SKILLS. CLIENT ASSISTED DESIGNS WERE FEATURED IN A LOCAL FASHION SHOW WHERE THE REDEMPTION BRAND WAS DEBUTED. AT YEAR END, ON 12/31/2023, WE HAD 430 ACTIVE CLIENTS. 163 OF THOSE WERE NEW INTAKES TO THE PROGRAM. WE HAVE SERVED A TOTAL OF 1,064 CLIENTS SINCE INCEPTION. ALL OF THIS IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE MY HOUSE PROVIDES SERVICES TO, AND ADVOCATES FOR, YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND YOUTH AT-RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS, SO THEY CAN BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF THEIR COMMUNITY.