Transitional living space opens in the Valley

WASILLA — The Knik House, now open at 1801 N. Wasilla-Fishhook Rd., is what one pastor called “an incredible miracle.”

“I think this is a great thing you’re doing here,” said Wasilla Mayor Bert Cottle to Knik House Director Andrea Moore at the grand opening Wednesday afternoon.

Amidst appetizers, cupcakes, a silent auction and musical worship, local politicians, community members and nonprofit organization representatives joined Blood N Fire Ministry in a come-as-you-go walk-through of two multi-person homes now known as the Knik House, a transitional and re-entry living space backed by the ministry.

“Our whole mission is for people to come here broken and leave here whole and restored through Jesus Christ,” Moore said.

While the homes are designed to house Valley residents recovering from alcohol or drug addiction — on top of facing homelessness — who are willing to commit to a faith-based 12-step program, she said, Knik House has the potential to serve a variety of men and women with housing needs.

The women’s house has space for seven women and a volunteer resident, and the men’s house has room for a total of 15 men.

“Someone who’s homeless on the street and they need to come in for a month or a couple weeks, we have beds for that also,” Lance Moore said. “We’re not gonna turn anybody away because of that.”

MY House Executive Director Michelle Overstreet said that temporary housing like what the Knik House offers is especially needed in the community.

“There’s no emergency housing in the Valley like this,” she said. “This is an opportunity for people that are ready to make changes. This is how we end homelessness.”

Although board members use the word “rehabilitate” in their informational pamphlet, Lance Moore stressed that Knik House “is not a rehab” center.

“We’re assisted living,” he said.

The ways in which board members intend to assist include teaching life skills that range from balancing a checkbook or obtaining a driver’s license to house cleaning and maintaining personal hygiene, Moore said.

“Whatever piece they’re missing, we’re gonna teach them how to do it and function in society and work as a family together,” he said.

Moore said he also hopes to someday have a program in which clients will learn how to fix up vehicles with minor damage and resell them, both for their own livelihood and to help keep Knik House up and running.

If people do want to engage in the 12- to 18-month program to stay clean or sober, however, they must sign a contract acknowledging the house requirements of attending church on Sunday as well as “Celebrate Recovery” at Wasilla Christian Church or “Fresh Start” at Church on the Rock.

For those who choose not to enroll in the program, some standards still apply.

“It has to be a safe and sober environment,” Andrea Moore said.

Currently, the only other emergency housing option for the homeless in the Valley is at the Family Promise Mat-Su facility at 561 W. Nelson Ave. in Wasilla. The building, which includes office space, has 10 beds for homeless families and individuals to use for a few days until other arrangements can be made. According to their website, 15 people can be served at a time between the main location and neighboring churches, and the average length of stay is 30 days.

Family Promise does not manage any kind of “stay sober” program through their office directly, though it does offer access to various services through other organizations.

“I’m very relieved to see another (housing) option for the homeless,” said Family Promise Director Laurie Kari at the Knik House opening.

In the future, the Moores and the Knik House board members, as well as those with Blood N Fire, hope to see more facilities like theirs throughout Alaska.

“We’re gonna be all throughout Alaska within 10 years,” Lance Moore said. “Everywhere from here to Point Hope, if a town can sustain it and it needs it … then we’re gonna open up a house.”