Saxton Youth Shelter 'scrambling' for funding

March 11, 2005

JOEL DAVIDSON/Frontiersman reporter

WASILLA - For the past 10 years, troubled Valley youth have come to the Kids are People Inc., Saxton Youth Shelter, seeking guidance to help put their lives back in order. Oftentimes, the 12- to 18-year-olds come to the nonprofit Wasilla shelter needing basic things like a haircut, or a safe place to just lay their head for a few nights.

Over the years, as the Valley population continues to grow, demand for the eight-bed shelter has increased. Referrals from outside the Mat-Su area have also contributed to demand, with kids being referred by the state Office of Children's Services from as far away as Dillingham, Homer, Kodiak and Kenai. In 2004, a record 212 kids checked into the shelter but that number is expected to be eclipsed by this coming summer, with 140 kids having already received housing in 2005.

"It's essentially first-come, first-served with preference given to OCS custody children," said Executive Director John Stein.

According to Stein, the shelter has been filled to capacity since early 2004. With limited funds available, however, the shelter had to cut back the number of youth it serves. Now, with only five of eight beds currently funded, a waiting list is growing.

"We are scrambling for additional money to keep all the eight shelter beds available," Stein said.

The state of Alaska only pays for up to five kids to be at the shelter at any given time. In past years the state had paid for several more.

The shelter receives the bulk of its funding, roughly $300,000, from state grants each year. In February, it also received a $25,389 grant from the Mat-Su Borough Human Services Matching Grant program, which, combined with local support from United Way of Mat-Su, has helped pay for one of the shelter beds. Other funding comes from local cash donations to the shelter, federal support and in-kind services.

Stein said other community resources and donations are relatively thin, however, and with an annual operating budget of over $450,000, the shelter is struggling to hold the line.

When kids come to the shelter, it's for emergency situations and often they are referred by law enforcement, OCS and parents. The facility is not a lock-down, however, and kids are free to leave if they choose.

"We do this in a homelike atmosphere with a living room and a kitchen," Stein said.

When kids first check in, a resident advisor interviews them and tries to determine the problems they are dealing with. Then the shelter notifies any other case workers, physicians or counselors that might have worked with the kids. Whenever possible, parents are also notified. A case manager then sets up a plan to help the kids get back on their feet.

"The first goal is to get the kid back home," said Stein, "In the meantime we work to keep kids in school."

If the kids can't return home or find another safe place to reside, the shelter may seek foster care as a last resort. The average length of stay is about 10 days.

In the 10 years since the shelter started, Stein said operation costs have risen due to more training and licensing requirements from the state, as well as increased education credentials for the 12 employees.

Despite financial struggles, though, Stein said the shelter serves an important role in the Valley.

"The Saxton shelter is the only licensed emergency shelter in the Valley," he said. "Without it, kids are forced to couch surf and sometimes they get into living situations that are unhealthy."

Kids are People Inc. is working closely with Gov. Frank Murkowski's Mat-Su office as well as OCS. They also asked for assistance from the Valley legislative delegation to get more resources for the Mat-Su.

To contact the Saxton Youth Shelter, people may call 376-7233.

Contact Joel Davidson at joel.davidson@frontiersman.com