Related Initiatives
Complex Behavioral Health Community Task Force
The Behavioral Health Needs Task Force is charged with identifying immediate needs and evaluating and presenting mid-to-long-term solutions to Municipal and State agencies to support individuals in our community who have complex behavioral health needs.
In the near term, the task force will present recommendations to support those impacted by the closure of emergency cold weather shelter plan locations, including the Sullivan Arena, by June 1, 2023.
In the long-term, the task force will submit a report recommending solutions to policy makers with broad discretion no later than August 31, 2023 to state agencies and September 5, 2023 to the Anchorage Assembly.
Sanctioned Camps Community Task Force
The Sanctioned Camps Task Force is charged with evaluating and presenting recommendations to the Anchorage Assembly and Municipal Administration regarding the feasibility of sheltering community options including sanctioned camps, pallet shelters, modular buildings and relocatable temporary buildings.
The group is contemplating the feasibility of dignified, temporary sheltering options to make recommendations to the Assembly. The task force’s recommendations must align with AR 2023-167, As Amended, which declared a policy of dispersed placement of services and programs for homeless persons across the Anchorage Bowl.
On May 17, AHD Homelessness Coordinator Michael Hughes presented his research on models for sanctioned camping from across the country to the Sanctioned Camp Community Task Force. Review the presentation.
On Monday, May 22, the Sanctioned Camp Community Task Force announced recommendations for locating, developing and supplying sanctioned camps across the Municipality to address immediate needs. The Assembly voted against laying on the table the resolution to adopt those recommendations at the May 23 Regular Assembly Meeting.
Recommendations for sanctioned camps and other sheltering community options are due July 6, 2023.
Forest Park Trailer Park
The Forest Park Trailer Park suffered significant damage to its infrastructure during the 2018 earthquake and its water well sources, water distribution and teatment system and sewage infrastructure are in a state of disrepair.
An
AR laid on the table at the April 25 Regular Assembly Meeting charged the Housing & Homelessness Committee with reporting back to the full Assembly on the feasible short-term remediation options and the long-term solutions to resolve the current crisis at Forest Park.
Clean Slate Strategy
At the March 21 meeting, the Assembly approved a resolution laid on the table by Member Felix Rivera to formally adopt a "Clean Slate Strategy" toward the Municipality's efforts to open a new permanent year-round low-barrier shelter in 2023. The strategy comes as the Assembly weighs options for potential locations of a new low-barrier shelter.
The resolution focuses the Municipality on opening a new permanent year-round low-barrier shelter by Nov. 1, 2023 using criteria to evaluate the interaction between the proposed shelter and the surrounding neighborhoods. The criteria will be developed and presented to the public as an Assembly Resolution with an accompanying public hearing.
As all emergency shelter locations are slated to close April 30, adding a permanent year-round low-barrier shelter before next winter is a critical step in adding stable sheltering capacity for years to come.
Emergency Cold Weather Sheltering Plan
At a special meeting on August 17, AR 2022-252 was adopted to create a task force to work with community groups to develop an emergency shelter plan consistent with AMC Chapter 16.120. Coordinated by the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness, the Emergency Sheltering Task Force presented recommendations, many of which the Assembly adopted at a Special Assembly Meeting on September 26. The Assembly held an additional Special Assembly Meeting on October 3 to create some alternative/additional options for the plan. On October 11, the Assembly passed a revised version of the plan and approved a slate of contracts for emergency sheltering leases, sheltering and food services.
See the Emergency Cold Weather Sheltering Documents section below for more information.
Emergency Cold Weather Shelter Plan Documents
The Emergency Cold Weather Shelter Plan is a result of actions taken across several previous Assembly Meetings:
February 21 Regular Assembly Meeting Documents
At the
Regular Assembly Meeting on February 21, the Assembly approved Alcohol Tax funding in the amount of $4,754,202.34 for continuing components of the Emergency Shelter Plan through the end of 2023, including operations of the Sullivan Arena and services provided at Covenant House, the Allex Hotel and the Aviator Hotel:
October 11 Regular Assembly Meeting Documents
At the October 11 meeting, the Assembly approved a slate of contracts from the Administration for leases, sheltering and food services at the Alex and Aviator Hotels. The Alex Hotel is newly online as a result of the Emergency Shelter Plan and the Aviator is being extended from its current use as a non-congregate shelter. The Assembly also passed AO 2022-93(S), with some minor amendments, to remove the Golden Lion from the Emergency Shelter Plan so it can be developed as housing, and ratified the funding for emergency shelter operations designated on September 26 with AR 2022-293, As Amended.
October 3 Special Assembly Meeting Documents
At a Special Assembly Meeting on October 3, the Assembly and Administration addressed administrative matters and approved another round of options. Meeting documents (proposed versions):
September 26 Special Meeting Documents
At a September 26 Special Meeting, the Assembly approved funding and contracts for components of the Emergency Shelter Plan through the end of the year, including contracts for operations of the Sullivan Arena and Golden Lion, and contracts with Bean's Cafe and Covenant House for expanded shelter capacity (at the October 11 meeting, the Golden Lion was removed from the Emergency Shelter Plan so it can be developed separately as a housing project). Meeting documents (final drafts):