ANCHORAGE - It has been more than five years since Covenant House Alaska began working to secure funding for a new building in Downtown Anchorage, and now that dream is finally becoming a reality.
On Tuesday hundreds showed up for the groundbreaking ceremony for Covenant House’s new shelter for homeless teens being built on the corner of Eighth Avenue and A Street.
“It’ll really be all services on the same site, like a one-stop shop so that the kids can get the services; if they need help finding a job that'll be on site,” said Deirdre Cronin, executive director of Covenant House Alaska.
The journey to get here wasn’t an easy one though. It took years for them to raise an estimated $20 million for the building, which will have 62 beds and double the space.
“It’ll give us the ability to serve more youth; we're at functional capacity,” said Cronin. “Last night 54 kids called Covenant House home and I don't have a bed for each of those young people, they sleep on mats on the floor.”
Brittany Pickens, 22, was one of those teens who turned to Covenant House when she needed help the most.
“If I didn't have family supporting me like all the time, I knew I had Covenant House, whatever I wanted to do, college, new apartment or whatever, they supported me,” said Pickens.
She said a new building means a new beginning.
“So much more opportunity for the youth to succeed,” she said.
It is all an effort to make sure fewer teens are forced onto the streets.
The building is expected to open its doors in the fall of 2013.
