Many homeless families and individuals in Alaska - where problems faced by the homeless can be especially harsh - are now finding refuge at the Safe Harbor Inn, a unique new motel in Anchorage.

The Safe Harbor Inn is Alaska's first nonprofit motel. The Inn was set up to house some of Anchorage's neediest families and individuals - those who have lost their homes through personal or natural disasters, or who cannot afford their own apartment and need a place to get back on their feet. It opened for business in late autumn and was full within five days.

Guests at the Inn are accepted only by referral from participating providers of health care, job training, counseling, treatment, and other services. Room rates may be paid by the client or by the referring agency, and there is no specified length of stay. Bean's Caf�, another Anchorage nonprofit that provides lunches to the homeless, brings food to Safe Harbor each day for residents.

In the first two months of operations, the Inn housed more than 60 guests - 11 families with 18 children, two senior citizens, and 18 people with mental disabilities. More than a quarter of those 60 guests made great progress in their lives and are now living in permanent housing. There are 35 families and individuals who are on the waiting list for a room, although on any given day, an estimated 1,000 people in Anchorage are without a place to stay. The nonprofit board that operates the Inn said they will expand the motel as long as the need is so great. The Inn is continuing to undergo rehab work, and it is expected that at least five additional rooms will be accessible for guests with disabilities.

While a lifesaver for families in need, any homeless shelter can be bleak for young children around the holidays. The week before Christmas, Anchorage HUD staff recognized that the nine children then at the motel should have "a visit from Santa Claus," and made the Safe Harbor Inn a special stop for a special Santa. Motel employees contacted parents in advance to be sure the families would be "home" for Santa's visit and provided Santa with a few bits of information about each of the children so that Santa could personalize his visit and bring some items the kids had on their wish lists. This was just what the Alaska HUD elves needed, and many staffers bought and wrapped gifts for the children, and several even accompanied Santa to the motel. On December 20, Santa - HUD's Gene Dobrzynski - donned his legendary red suit, black boots and white gloves and paid a visit to the Inn. The children were in their rooms, waiting in anticipation, and Santa visited each one of them bringing gifts of toys and clothing, cookies, candy canes and small food items.

When it first opened, Safe Harbor already had agreements with 30 local social service providers - many of them recipients of HUD grants - to house their clients. The Inn now has another agreement with the Anchorage HUD office - to receive another visit from Santa just before Christmas, 2002. The Inn plans to have a large room available so the kids and families all can gather with Santa and his elves for cookies and punch. With the sounds and smells of Christmas all about, every homeless child can climb onto Santa's lap and whisper in his ear what everyone at the Inn wants - a happier life with their families in a house or apartment they can call "home."