Opportunities for Anchorage youth to go from unhoused to housed

Representatives from and youths housed through Volunteers of America and Covenant House joined the lived expertise youth panel led by Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness staff member Michaela Franklin at the recent summit, Anchorage’s Coordinated Response to Homelessness.

A 21-year-old was finding it hard to get stable housing, leading to other challenges including employment. They joined a program at Volunteers of America, got safe and stable housing, set goals, built life skills and now have a good job at an automotive shop.

That’s just one recent example of how Anchorage young adults are moving from homeless and struggling to housed and thriving.

Four organizations in our community offer housing, either short-term or permanent, tailored for young adults 18 to 24 years old, known as transition-age youth. Programs all aim for independence, safety and long-term stability for young people with pasts that too often include hardship, harm and betrayal. Specifics, including how to get housing and how long youths can stay, vary by program.

Here is a snapshot of each:

Choosing Our Roots

Its SafeRoot Anchorage program includes four apartments where youth can stay up to 13 months. The organization isn’t enrolling new participants at this time but expects to reopen applications soon. Participants live independently in their own apartment with weekly case management and resource navigation. This transitional housing aims to help individuals gain life skills that will lead to permanent housing. To learn more and connect with Choosing Our Root for a needs assessment, visit its website.

Covenant House Alaska

This organization offers three housing programs in Anchorage. Two require a referral through the Coordinated Entry system that prioritizes Anchorage’s housing resources for those who are most vulnerable, and the third requires a referral from a case manager.

Rights of Passage is a transitional living program in a dorm-style setting that allows each youth to have their own room. Participants must be referred through Coordinated Entry, meaning their name has risen to the top of the priority list for transition-age youth. They can stay 18 to 24 months.

The Rapid Rehousing program, an independent living program supported by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, places youth in private apartments with supports provided by Covenant House team members. This is a 12- to 36-month program that requires a Coordinated Entry referral. Questions? Reach out to housingleadership@covenanthouseak.org.

Covey Lofts provides an opportunity for youth to experience an apartment rental with a safe, trauma-informed landlord. Youths can stay 12 to 24 months, with their rent supported by vouchers. Youth must receive a case manager referral for one of the 22 micro-units, a move from shelter to more independent apartment living. Learn how to support this project here. Interested youth who meet the admission criteria are encouraged to schedule a tour by reaching out to housingleadership@covenanthouseak.org.

Shiloh Community Housing

Shiloh’s Living Independent ForEver (LIFE) Program provides transitional housing for up to 14 single young adults, ages 18 to 24, who are experiencing homelessness. The program supports eight males and six females, offering safe, supportive housing for up to two years.

Participants live in fully furnished private apartments, either one-bedroom units for individuals or two-bedroom units shared by two residents. Each apartment comes equipped with everything needed to help young adults gain the skills to live independently.

The LIFE Program focuses on building life skills, fostering financial responsibility, managing a household, and supporting the journey toward independence. To learn more or apply, contact Shiloh at 907-770-2993 or email info@shilohhousing.org.

Volunteers of America Alaska

VOA’s permanent supportive housing places young adults who have been experiencing homelessness into private market apartments. Youths get into this housing through the Coordinated Entry program and can stay on a voucher that covers these rents and supports through age 24. The youths, who may be experiencing severe mental illness or substance use disorders, receive help for stabilization and wellness; clinical services, employment and education for independence, and planning to become self-sufficient.

Bottom line: High demand for these services means not everyone in need gets housing right away. But gradually, the inventory of available housing for young adults is growing in Anchorage.