Bean’s Cafe to proceed with Municipality of Anchorage request to provide homeless shelter services

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** New Shelter Location Opening in Response to COVID-19
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The Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness (ACEH) is excited to share that new shelter capacity will soon be opening in Anchorage to address the needs of people experiencing homelessness. Please see the press release from Beans Café below for more information.

March 20, 2020
For Immediate Release
CONTACT:
Lisa Sauder, CEO, Bean’s Cafe
(907) 350-3818 (cell)
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

Bean’s Cafe announced today that it has agreed to facilitate a request from the Municipality of Anchorage to provide safe temporary shelter for up to 480 clients each day, 24 hours a day. The shelter will open on Saturday, March 21 with an initial capacity of 290 and will ramp up as staff is hired and trained and as increased capacity is needed.

The agreement contains many stipulations that enable the Municipality and Bean’s to monitor those who use the program, and provide 24-hour a day staffing, seven days a week.

The two facilities that will be used for emergency overnight shelter will be the Sullivan Arena and BenBoeke Ice Arena, which allows sufficient space for shelter officials to set up sleeping facilities at a distance of six feet apart.

During the evenings, one staff person will be required per 50 occupants, while during the day, one staff person per 30 clients will be on hand.

“We agree during this time of extreme concern regarding the health of all Alaskans, that we have been asked to expand our mission and provide service and protection to those who are among the most vulnerable, our homeless population,” said Lisa Sauder, Executive Director of Bean’s Cafe and The Children’s Lunchbox.

“We will still continue with our core mission of feeding the hungry, and will provide three meals a day to those who are housed with us,” Sauder said.

In addition to providing sufficient space between residents, Bean’s and the MOA have agreed upon a number of key items for expanding shelter during this challenging time.

There will be hand washing stations and restrooms, and security onsite during this time. Clients will also have a storage container or tote for their belongings. The Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness is working with Bean’s Cafe to help connect clients to housing and other resources.

“We want to minimize the impact of this virus on not just the population in general, but on the homeless,” Sauder said.

As of Saturday, March 21 no client services will be offered at the current Bean’s Cafe location of 1101 E. 3^rd Avenue. This site will house our culinary staff and the facility will exclusively be utilized for food production.

In addition to the three meals per day that will be provided to anyone seeking shelter at the Arenas, we will continue to provide meals to Karluk Manor and Brother Francis Shelter medical respite program.

Bean’s Cafe, exists to fight hunger for all ages, one meal at a time; while providing a pathway to self-sufficient, with dignity and respect. For information visit www.beanscafe.org.


** ACEH HAS TWO NEW EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES!
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