Anchorage, Alaska
2010 Director’s Community Leadership Awards
| Anchorage | Catholic Social Services |
| Dr. Susan Bomalaski, director of Catholic Social Services, accepts the award from Director Mueller. |
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In Anchorage, Catholic Social Services (CSS) helped nearly 19,000 Alaskans in 2009 through collaborative community projects. CSS is one of the largest social service agencies in Alaska. The non-profit is dedicated to serving the poor, strengthening individuals and families, and advocating for a just community. Its programs include Beyond Shelter, a collaborative project that assists unsheltered families with children in securing emergency housing when shelters are full, and that connects homeless families to the resources necessary to secure a place to call home. CSS also runs the Brother Francis Shelter, which provides temporary, emergency shelter for men and women; an evening meal and use of shower and laundry facilities; case management services; advocacy; job readiness training; and referrals for employment. It is also responsible for the Clare House, which provides temporary, emergency 24-hour shelter for expectant mothers and women with children. Residents receive daily meals and referrals for child care, substance abuse/mental health counseling, affordable permanent housing, employment, and continuing education opportunities. In addition to helping longtime residents, CSS also acts as a bridge for refugees through its Refugee Assistance and Immigration Services (RAIS) program. RAIS assists clients in obtaining a financially sustainable lifestyle in which basic needs can be fully met on a long-term basis. RAIS offers a wide range of bilingual and bicultural services and, in 2009, helped more than 1,064 new refugees—91 percent of adult clients found work within six months of arriving in the United States. |
