Working to End Homelessness for Mat-Su’s Youth

The vision for the team at MyHouse Mat-Su Homeless Youth Center is a lofty but important one – to end homelessness.

Located in Wasilla, MyHouse Mat-Su has been helping youth between the ages of 14 and 25 years old who are at risk for homelessness for more than a decade. The organization’s multi-faceted approach provides clients transitional housing, necessities such as food and clothing, and a place to shower or do laundry.

It also provides additional support services, including mental health counseling, partnering for substance abuse treatment and job training.

“If it’s something that’s related to the field of homeless youth services, we’re either doing it here or we’re partnering with an organization that does it,” said Isaac Smoldon, Communications Director for MyHouse.

Growing to Meet Community Needs

The organization had humble beginnings when founder Michelle Overstreet arranged to use a hallway in a Wasilla high school with accessible resources to homeless youth.

Today, MyHouse supports about 500 active clients, all with varying stages of need. It has a building of its own now, which features a coffee shop, retail outlets and a recording studio where they develop a regular podcast.

 These facilities provide necessary resources for youths in need but also offer job training. Clients can learn barista skills at the coffee shop, earn retail sales experience in the clothing stores and receive training to design their own fashions with “upcycled” clothing. MyHouse also works with partners across the community that can offer training across a number of different fields.

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“There are expectations like you have in any job, but there's room for failure and learning opportunities that you might not get at a ‘regular job’ out in the community. It's definitely a key part of what we do here. That adage of, ‘Give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he will eat for life’ is a key component of our work here.”

– Isaac Smoldon, Communications Director for MyHouse Mat-Su Homeless Youth Center

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Meeting Clients’ Individual Needs

Because their clients' situations are unique, the MyHouse team takes a customized approach to each individual rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

“I have clients come here sometimes and they’re like, ‘I was afraid that you were going to be upset with me because I did something that maybe is a step backwards,’” said Kyra Mackey, Case Management Coordinator. “And I tell them no, that’s part of the process of learning how to be supported in terms of their mental health and figuring out next steps. When you care about someone, you don’t just say goodbye. That’s not what we’re here for. We’re here to see you succeed.”

Enhancing Services for the Community

Providing such varied services for a growing population of clients requires partnerships with various organizations such as Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, which provides grants to MyHouse Mat-Su.

“We’ve had so much success having the funding to be able to house our clients and partner with other agencies if they have a referral. Alaska Housing's been excellent to work with and very supportive of our programs,” Kyra said. “I don't know where we'd be to be honest. Overall I’ve been really, really thankful for the whole program and all the staff there.”

In July 2023, the organization broke ground on the Carson-Cottle Center, largely thanks to federal funding. When completed in late 2024, the center will include treatment programs for substance abuse, educational opportunities and permanent supportive housing. It will also include a restaurant and a clothing store.

“We don't say, ‘OK, this is what we're going to do for you and this is how we're going to make your life so much better,’” Isaac said. “That mentality shift to this is, ‘What do you want to do? How can we help you get there so that you can achieve success in your life?’”

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Learn more about MyHouse Mat-Su and their work to end youth homelessness. Find out how Alaska Housing partners with organizations across the state to offer resources for Alaskans facing homelessness.