For the first time ever, Cook Inlet Tribal Council (CITC) is teaming up with Lutheran Social Services to combat the growing problem of homelessness in Anchorage.

But instead of targeting alcoholism or helping with rent, the program is sending Alaska Natives back to their home villages.

This program is targetted for Alaska Natives who come to Anchorage for a job or a medical appointment and become stranded when they do not have the money to get home.

Lutheran Social Services already runs a program for stranded rural Alaskans for medical purposes. But CITC wanted to partner up and help those who are not financially making it in Anchorage.

"The access to these villages can be very limited boat, plane, most of the time it's the only way to get there," said CITC's, chief financial officer, Amy Fredeen.

A one way ticket to rural Alaskan communities can range from $200 to $500, which can be a financial burden to some Alaskan Natives who hit a bump in the road living in Anchorage and end up living on the streets.

"Really, these families and individuals are coming in; they are either homeless, risk of being homeless or couch surfing. They don't really have a stable place to call their own," said Fredeen.

CITC says many Alaskan Natives move to the big city and do not anticipate how much it costs to get started, like first and last months rent, deposits, other expenses like transportation and monthly bills. That was a

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reason why CITC partnered with Lutheran Social Services to buy Alaskans a one way ticket back home. But the tickets are not without strings attached.

"By all means, we don't want to take people off the street and send them home. We want to make sure they have a safe environment to go back to and that they are ready for that," said Fredeen.

That is why CITC set aside $25 thousand from its yearly formula base funding and donated it to Lutheran Social Services, so it can spot tickets for those who cannot. "We (CITC) are going to be the referring agency, so when we know participants are ready to make that step back home, we can send them through Lutheran Services who will do that interview process to really make sure it's a safe place for them to go," said Fredeen.

While this pilot program is to assist those stuck in Anchorage, CITC is encouraging participants to look at other options too. "Part of the responsibility of the participant is really to look at other resources, whether it is credit card mileage. Often times they forget the mileage they have in their personal account or maybe their corporation can give them support," said Fredeen.

CITC says it hopes it can fly a 100 to 200 people under this program. Lutheran will start meeting with applicants in a couple of weeks.

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