Covenant House Launching ‘Work Ready Alaska’ Skills Training Program
Photo Credit: N Felix | Adobe Stock
Covenant House Alaska (CHA) is collaborating with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities and Associated General Contractors of Alaska to launch Work Ready Alaska, a program to prepare young people for careers in transportation, construction, and skilled labor.
Work Ready Alaska officially begins on March 1 and will include enrollment of youth who live at CHA in addition to youth in underserved communities who lack access to career advancement.
Integrate Training with Housing
Alaska has a growing need for workers in construction, transportation, and maritime industries, but many young people face significant barriers to entering the workforce, including housing instability, lack of training, and limited support networks. Thus, the Department of Transportation selected Covenant House Alaska as a primary partner to recruit young adults and deliver life skills training.
CHA is the state’s largest nonprofit organization supporting youth experiencing homelessness and survivors of human trafficking. CHA offers a safe place and comprehensive services to help youth ages 13–24 achieve stability, independence, and success.
Current Issue
March 2026
Through a partnership with Associated General Contractors of Alaska, CHA will implement Work Ready Alaska, a statewide initiative to prepare disadvantaged young Alaskans (ages 16–24) for careers in transportation-related trades. The program covers foundational employability skills training; vocational and technical training; employer and training partnerships, including apprenticeships and advanced training tracks; targeted recruitment; and wraparound support focusing on housing access, mental health, job coaching, and transportation assistance.
“What makes the Work Ready Alaska model unique is that it is a trauma-informed, relationship-based approach that integrates workforce training with housing, wellness, and wraparound services,” says CHA CEO Alison Kear.
Recent studies confirm that 86 percent of employers report that entry-level talent requires substantial or moderate additional training to be successful in their roles.
Among the goals for the first year of Work Ready Alaska: 120 students will complete basic certifications, 30 students will earn transportation-aligned certifications, 30 will enter apprenticeships or advanced training, and 30 will obtain transportation-related employment.
Kear adds, “Equally as important is that we are a data-driven organization and we can use our existing evaluation systems to provide valuable data sets to other organizations and partners seeking both workforce solutions and opportunities to place motivated young people into careers.”
In 2025, CHA served 979 young people across core programs and services. It reports that 21 percent of youth served were employed upon arrival at CHA; by the end of the fiscal year, nearly 25 percent had gained or maintained jobs. CHA provided 51,961 nights of safe housing in 2025, and nearly 75 percent of youth in CHA’s transitional housing program exit to stable housing.
Along with stable housing, education and employment are essential to ending youth homelessness. Work Ready Alaska is designed to equip young people with the skills and opportunities to build brighter, more secure futures.
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