Alaska
After falling behind in bills and rent, couple David and Ethel found themselves turning to the Kinsey House shelter run by the Salvation Army in Anchorage. With a two-year old at home and twins on the way, the family has been working to save money and get back on their feet. Although David, who was formerly in the navy, used the food pantry in the past, he’s never worried about being homeless. Their problems started when he had to deal with scaled back hours during early 2008. Eventually, David finally lost his job and hasn’t been able to find work since.
Besides food and shelter, the two find themselves with a list of tiresome concerns. Gas prices in Alaska have been some of the highest in the country, making $40 fill-ups in their minivan a luxury for the two. David says their bus system is unreliable, so he tries to carpool as much as possible in order to save money.
Furthermore, with seven kids (and two on the way) between the pair, they both find themselves concerned with the subject of child-rearing. At the time of this interview, only Mason lived with them in Kinsey House. But David and Ethel can’t wait until they get a larger space of their own at Safe Harbor Inn, a transitional home for homeless families in Anchorage. David believes he’ll be able to properly watch over his kids once they are all back together again.
For David, who hasn’t always lived in Alaska, the rising cost of living has been discouraging. Even with the way things are, he and Ethel would never leave Anchorage. “It’s beautiful here,” he chuckles about his adopted home city with an air of whimsy. He knows with Ethel’s support and the help of Kinsey House, things may be alright.
Find out more about the Food Bank of Alaska.