Cook Inlet Tribal Council (CITC) has opened a new residence called Chanlyut House for participants of Chanlyut, the council’s two-year residential, vocational and educational program for men working to overcome the challenges of addiction, homelessness and/or reentering society after incarceration. The new 7,000-square-foot residential facility expands the current program capacity from 20 to 50 and provides space to accommodate future growth while supporting the goals of the Chanlyut program and its business-training schools.
Program participants work for room and board, while Chanlyut provides a structured, yet self-governed path that stresses personal growth through hard work, commitment to change and taking personal responsibility for one’s actions. Chanlyut is modeled after San Francisco’s successful Delancey Street organization and builds upon Alaska Native values.
Chanlyut is a Dena’ina Athabascan word meaning “new beginnings.” The Chanlyut program relies on community donations for residential furnishings, participants’ clothing and items for business-training schools. Professional services such as teaching and tutoring, dental services and health care are needed as well. Please contact CITC Development Director Kelly Hurd at (907) 793-3272 or khurd@citci.org, or visit www.citci.org to learn more about making a contribution. Learn more about Chanlyut at www.chanlyut.com.
