Deadline to submit applications for Rent Relief is tomorrow, Friday October 1st, 2021

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Weekly Digest
Get in Touch. Stay Informed.


** Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) Spotlight
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Alaska Housing Rent Relief, administered by Alaska Housing Finance Corporation in partnership with regional housing authorities and five nonprofit partners, has helped more than 50,000 residents statewide in 20,220 households. $132 million has been paid since March, very likely preventing many evictions and insuring stable housing.

Most Alaskans can check their eligibility using their cell phones in less than five minutes and apply for the program at www.AlaskaHousingRelief.org. They can also call for assistance at 1-844-330-8290. Deadline to submit applications is Friday October 1st, 2021.


** ACEH Updates
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The Anchorage Coalition to End Homlessness (ACEH) works with allies in the community to design, create, and lead implementation for the Anchorage community plan on homelessness.
More about ACEH ([link removed])


** Coordinated Entry & Shelter
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Family Emergency Shelter
Families that are unsheltered are encouraged to call 2-1-1. From there they will be given a referral to either Safe Harbor or Clare House depending on current vacancies. If no vacancies are available the family will get a referral to the Aviator or Aspen Hotel. We know that this is not ideal, but it is a temporary solution to help families in need.

Case Conferencing and Coordinated Entry (CE) Training
If you have any questions, or are interested in coordinated entry access point ([link removed]) training for you or your team, please contact Mac Lyons at: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?subject=o%09Case%20Conferencing%20Meetings%20%26%20Coordinated%20Entry%20Access%20Point%20Training)


** Outreach & Resources
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This Friday, October 1, VISIT Healthcare will be hosting a free COVID-19 testing clinic for unsheltered individuals from 1-2 PM at Peratrovich Park downtown. Outreach workers will be on site to offer resources and services.

Exciting outreach updates:
* CHOICES received funding for a Coordinated Entry based Rapid Rehousing program and has already been successful in housing several individuals.
* Covenant House is participating in daily outreach with RuRAL CAP and CHOICES. This is a very exciting step forward in growing our outreach efforts.
* There is now a formal partnership with Providence’s Community Health Worker program. CHW’s will be able to assist clients with Food Stamps and Medicaid applications, as well as offer low-level onsite medical treatment for cuts, wounds, and frostbite.

Reminder: The next Outreach Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 6^th at 10 AM.

Please reach out with any questions or comments: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) 907-312-9478


** August 2021 Data
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Individuals housed: 103
Individuals new to homelessness: 272
Total individuals experiencing homelessness: 3,161


** Local Housing & Homelessness Highlights
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Inspiring stories from the Anchorage community, news and information about housing and homelessness, and tangible ways you can get involved and help people in need. View ACEH Members ([link removed])


** Partner Wish Lists
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Alaska Behavioral Health ([link removed])
AWAIC ([link removed])
Catholic Social Services ([link removed])
CHOICES ([link removed])
The Children's Lunchbox ([link removed])


** Committee on Housing and Homelessness
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Monthly Update from the Chair of the Assembly's Committee on Housing and Homelessness

Update Highlights
* New Contractor in Place as Sullivan Arena Mass Care Facility
* Family Shelter for Winter Challenges
* Budget Priorities
* Important Upcoming Dates

View full update here ([link removed])

[link removed]
MACK House is now open! MACK House is a program of Covenant House Alaska, which serves young people ages 13 to 18 years old experiencing homelessness.


** Covenant House
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MACK House is named after Mildred and Carlette Mack, a mother-daughter duo who, between the two of them, have been serving Covenant House Alaska for close to 30 years.

In just the few months that MACK House has been open, young people staying there have said “It’s so calm, a place I can feel safe. It’s a place I can stay on track.”


** Food Bank of Alaska
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The Food Research and Action Center is currently circulating a sign on letter to Congress and the Biden administration urging them to protect the anti-hunger and anti-poverty provisions of the Build Back Better Act.

The legislation is a historic investment in critically-needed anti-hunger programs which would ensure children have access to the nutrition they need year-round during and after the impacts from the pandemic. It has a short turnaround with a deadline to sign on of COB Monday. - Ron Meehan, Policy and Advocacy Manager, Food Bank of Alaska


** National Housing & Homelessness Highlights
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** Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
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House America Initiative
House America: An All-Hands-on-Deck Effort to Address the Nation’s Homelessness Crisis is a federal initiative in which the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) are inviting mayors, city and county leaders, tribal nation leaders, and governors into a national partnership. House America will utilize the historic investments provided through the American Rescue Plan ([link removed]) to address the crisis of homelessness through a Housing First approach.


** National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)
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‘Build Back Better Act’
The House Budget Committee voted to advance the “Build Back Better Act,” a $3.5 trillion comprehensive infrastructure and economic recovery package, to the House Rules Committee in preparation for a full vote on the House floor. The full vote in the House could take place as soon as the coming week.

The bill currently includes $327 billion in affordable housing investments, including robust funding for the HoUSed campaign’s top priorities ([link removed]) :
* $90 billion for rental assistance, including $75 billion for Housing Choice Vouchers and $15 billion for Project-Based Rental Assistance. See the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ state-by-state breakdown ([link removed]) of how many people would be assisted through this voucher expansion;
* $80 billion to preserve public housing; and
* $37 billion for the national Housing Trust Fund (as a set-aside within the HOME Investment Partnership Program). See NLIHC’s state-by-state estimate ([link removed]) of this investment.

Read NLIHC’s full analysis of the legislation here ([link removed]) .


** U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)
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The latest federal guidance and resources to prevent and end homelessness
Coronavirus variants and the hurricane season present unique threats to people experiencing homelessness and threaten to force more Americans into homelessness.

To help communities plan for, respond to, and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and environmental disasters, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) recently updated two collection pages of federal guidance and resources.

The COVID-19 page includes information, sorted by department and sub-sorted by agency/program, on:
* Protecting people experiencing homelessness from coronavirus; and
* Relief funding provided by the CARES Act, the American Rescue Plan, and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 that can be used to help people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Visit the COVID-19 collection of federal guidance and resources. ([link removed])

The disaster page features information from:
* The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC);
* The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA);
* The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS);
* The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD);
* The National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE); and
* The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Visit the disaster collection of federal guidance and resources. ([link removed])


View this news on the USICH site. ([link removed])
ACEH Weekly Digest for 9/22/2021

Please reach out to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?subject=ACEH%20Weekly%20Digest) if you have questions, suggestions or resources you would like to share in the weekly digest.

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