Saving lives from the mean streets

My shift started Friday nights at 8. My shift partner for those nights was John Orr. He was the outreach coordinator for newly opened Covenant House in Anchorage more than 20 years ago. We would work Anchorage until 6 the next morning. John spread the word that you (homeless/runaway youth) could get off the streets, and have warm place to sleep. The other pluses were food, other kids in similar situations (coming to realize you aren’t alone!), and a compassionate, nonjudgmental, caring staff.

To convince kids we were for real, John always brought food and jackets in the van to give out. It did not take too long before we had some takers, and some kids took us up on our invitation to come into House. But, there were unfortunately just as many that just took the food and ran, literally. It was not John’s style to do anything but continue offering. He was a kind-hearted soul, whom kids came to trust and respect on the street, even the ones that stayed out there. It was amazing how fast the word spread in street culture. Who is up or down, when and where to be or not. The Captain Cook Monument was known as the “bunks.” Kids would use the beams under the landings as, just that, bunk beds. John knew all the different “hang outs,” streets, and alleys where kids were. He knew the circuit, as to when and where kids would be at different times of the night. There were always a couple special kids he was “working” on to get to come into House. They were usually girls who were most vulnerable to the elements of the street. The elements used them, and then just discarded them. He could see it written all over them, like they were wearing a sign, which in fact they were to some on the streets that were looking for them.

One night, we ran across two girls fitting that description. They were dressed entirely in black, along with their black hair, but their faces were as white as snow, fresh and new to the streets. They were planning to take the bus as far out of town as they could, then hitchhike out to the Valley to stay with friends. They had their minds made up, and nothing we, two old and boring men, could say was going to change their minds. “Don’t worry about us; nothing bad is going to happen.” They disappeared into the darkness, and John’s heart went out to them. He said a prayer, knowing they were in God’s hands.

The rest of the evening involved stopping by St. Francis Shelter, the Space Station (an arcade), the transit station and all-night restaurants. That 10-hour shift actually went by quickly, ending at Covenant House to grab breakfast, and lots of coffee before I drove back home to the Valley.

However, that particular morning I saw two girls that looked vaguely familiar. But, it could not be those two girls trying to make their way out to the Valley; these girls were way too young. Yet, sure enough, it was the girls we had met on the street earlier who looked 17 or 18. After they had taken showers , washed all the makeup off, and changed into blue jeans and flannel shirts, they looked 13 or 14! The police had found them hitching, checked their ages, and brought them to Covenant House. The police were definitely the higher power of the night, and escorted them to safety. John’s prayer was answered for the girls. They were granted a reprieve from the streets, for at least the night, and hopefully more.

Some 20 years have passed and kids still run back and forth between Anchorage and the Valley (and beyond!). Covenant House will have as many as 10 percent of kids from the Valley. That’s the ones that make it. I do not want to think about what happens to the others that never make into the House. Those are the ones that just disappear into the darkness of the night, and or the streets. And we know the ones that are wearing those signs get picked up first, and not by the police!

If you believe as strongly as I do that we need a “House” in the Valley for our homeless, runaway youth, I know just the thing you can do, immediately. Family Promise of Mat-Su, a nonprofit organization that provides shelter, food and other services, is hosting “Cardboard City” July 23-24 at the Alaska State Fairgrounds. This event is to raise awareness and the need for shelters for families and kids. Participants spend the night in a cardboard “dwelling,” have a meal from a soup kitchen and hear live music. For more information for this great cause, call 357-6160 or visit the website, www.familypromisematsu.org.

I hope and pray, as John did, we can invite homeless, runaway youth into a “House” here in the Valley, so they do not have to make that perilous trip into Anchorage, and get lost, abused or die in the darkness of the streets. I believe together we can become a higher, caring power for our homeless, runaway youth, until they find their own way to a safe, productive lifestyle.

Michael P. Carson is a retired Mat-Su teacher.