Outreach Update from the ACEH Team!

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Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness (ACEH)


** WEEKLY DIGEST
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Spotlight


** Outreach Update from the ACEH Team!
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Last Friday Ryan Chernikoff, ACEH Transition Coordinator, together with Liliane and Zabeeba from the Providence outreach team, and Jerry Staten with RurAL CAP Alaska, worked to connect people with health care and other services.

Ryan shared that "they handed out pizza that they bought with their own money to help put a smile on people’s faces”. Brian, who has lived experience, also joined to guide them around the camps and helped them connect with individuals.

Ryan said, "Today felt very productive. We outreached to the camps at Davis Park in Mountain View, which is scheduled for abatement tomorrow, April 16^th. We asked folks what they plan to do when the site is abated, and many did not know. We worked to inform those in the camps about services available and offered to help them connect with those services. Many responded positively and provided their names and contact information if they had a way to be contacted."


** ACEH Updates
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The Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness (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])
This Thursday and Friday!


** Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) fair at the Sullivan and the Aviator
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Thursday, April 21^st, and Friday, April 22^nd from 9-4

ACEH, in conjunction with HUD Technical Assistance and other community partners, is hosting an Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) fair at the Sullivan and the Aviator. The goal is to work with 100 of the community’s most vulnerable and begin the application process that will lead to permanent housing.

For more information, contact Terria at: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?subject=EHV%20Housing%20Fair)
View Event ([link removed])


** Individuals and Families Successfully Housed at the Sockeye
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On 3/31/22, ACEH in partnership with Catholic Social Services and the Anchorage Health Department (AHD) successfully re-housed 22 individuals and 5 families in 9 days. Non-critical transportation was provided by AHD through 99 plus 1. Some were re-housed utilizing Alaska Housing Finance Corporation's (AHFC) Housing Stability program.


** Stop By the ACEH Booth at the Alaska Young Professionals Summit
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April 29-30, 2022 at the Dena'ina Center

"Can't Stop, Won't Stop"

the Anchorage Chamber's Young Professionals Group (YPG) is proud to host the 2022 Alaska Young Professionals Summit, a two-day hybrid conference to develop Alaska's workforce and prepare, motivate, and inspire attendees to be informed, productive leaders.

Get a sneak peek at the speakers and presentations at bit.ly/SummitAgenda22. Updates added daily!

At the annual Summit,
* more than 200 young professionals attend a series of immersive in-person and online sessions and panels presented by successful and experienced business, government, and community leaders
* attendees are fueled by a phenomenal keynote speaker, insightful discussions, and have the opportunity to connect with local experts
* content is geared toward all levels of employees and executives and we welcome professionals from all industries

More Details & Registration Here ([link removed])


** ACEH Press Conference
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[link removed]
Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness (ACEH) virtual press conference Monday, 18th of April 2022 at 10 AM. An update was given on the transition plan with the closure of the mass care sites.

Subscribe to the ACEH YouTube for Future Updates ([link removed])


** Giving & Volunteer Opportunities
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Children's Lunchbox Garden for Good ([link removed])
CH Passage House Luncheon ([link removed])
Neighborworks Alaska Paint the Town ([link removed])
St. Francis House Food Pantry ([link removed])
VOA Virtual Spring Social ([link removed])

View M ([link removed]) ore Local Opportunities Here ([link removed])


** 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])


** Anchorage Health Department (AHD)
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Terrence Shanigan Appointed to Human Services Division Manager Post at AHD

The Anchorage Health Department announced that Mayor Dave Bronson has appointed Terrence Shanigan to the vacant Human Services division manager post. Terrence comes to the health department with a wealth of firsthand and professional experience in homelessness, government policy, and public health.

“Terrence’s unique lived experiences and long history of service to his community will be invaluable as we continue to address homelessness in Anchorage,” said Anchorage Public Health Director Joe Gerace. “With this appointment, the department’s senior team is now fully staffed and ready to maximize the important services we deliver to the Alaskans living in our city.”
Read the Full Press Release ([link removed])


** Alaska Public Media
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Terria Ware, with the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness, said big families are having to wait a long time for a home — sometimes up to a year. The problem isn’t funding, she said, it’s available housing.

“We need more units,” she said. “And if you’re talking about families, some of our families are quite large. So where are those three-bedrooms?”

Ware said city officials, nonprofits and a team from federal Department of Housing and Urban Development are racing to find more permanent housing in Anchorage as the city hands off its control of the pandemic shelter response to social service organizations and tries to move out of its largest shelter at the Sullivan Arena.

It’s an uphill battle to find more units. Some landlords or hotel owners have had a bad experience renting to agencies that serve homeless people and have stopped contracting with them, said Denice Delgado, social services director for the Salvation Army in Anchorage.

“Some of them were completely frustrated after the pandemic of not getting payment or having to go through the eviction process, and some have got out of the rental game altogether, or refuse to take vouchers,” she said.

Despite the challenges, there are some families moving into more permanent housing. Nearly 300 families with children have been housed since September, according to the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness. Delgado said the Salvation Army helped find permanent stable housing for 450 families last year.

Excerpt from the article "For this Anchorage family, the road out of homelessness is a test of patience" By Lex Treinen, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage -April 14, 2022
Read the Full Article ([link removed])


** Anchorage Houseless Resources Advocacy Council (HRAC)
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Members and Allies are Invited to Join

1st & 3rd Thursday of each month, from 3:00 to 5:00 in the Sullivan Arena. To support and bear witness for houseless folks as they are transitioned out of the Sullivan Arena Mass Shelter.

For the duration of the transition, HRAC is abandoning its traditional practice of meeting on the 1st Thursday with Members & Allies and reserving the 3rd Thursday for Members only. The Steering Committee will consider the frequency and format of future meetings as the transition draws to a close.
Contact HRAC (mailto:[email protected])


** National Housing & Homelessness Highlights
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** US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
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Preventing Homelessness Among People Leaving Prisons and Jails – New Resources Available
To improve the reentry process for people leaving prisons and jails and prevent recidivism, it is important for Continuums of Care (CoCs) to create partnerships with justice system partners and increase access to affordable housing. The new HUD Exchange Preventing Homelessness Among People Leaving Prisons and Jails page ([link removed]) features the following two resources:
1. Action Points: Four Steps to Expand Access to Housing for People in the Justice System with Behavioral Health Needs ([link removed]) : This Council of Stage Governments (CSG) brief presents four steps state leaders can take to increase housing opportunities and improve justice and health outcomes for people in the justice system with behavioral health needs.

FAQs: Building Effective Partnerships with CoCs to Increase Housing Options for People Leaving Prisons and Jails ([link removed]) : This Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) document reviews four frequently asked questions about building effective partnerships with CoCs to increase access to stable, affordable housing for people leaving prisons and jails.
View the New Resources ([link removed])


** National Alliance to End Homelessness
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Introducing the Pressure Points Series

The Alliance’s new Pressure Points Resource Series ([link removed]) outlines specific strategies, practices, and philosophies that can help relieve the pressures experienced by providers and systems alike.
The first installment of the series contains resources on implementing Housing First, shared housing, and progressive engagement strategies. These resources are designed to be clear, concise, and easily shareable so that communities can learn to adopt these strategies, and relieve pressure their systems may be experiencing.
Read: "Introducing the Pressure Points Resource Series" ([link removed])
Explore the Pressure Points Resource Series ([link removed])


** National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)
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Take Action: Urge Congress to Enact the Bipartisan Eviction Crisis Act
Thanks to the hard work of advocates, program administrators, and champions in Congress and the Biden administration, states and local communities have made more than 4.7 million emergency rental assistance (ERA) payments to help more than 3.2 million households ([link removed]) behind on rent remain stably housed during the pandemic.
Given the success, the clear ongoing need, and the newly created national infrastructure to administer ERA programs, Congress should create a permanent ERA program that builds on the successes of – and lessons learned from – these historic efforts.
Sign your organization on to a letter ([link removed]) urging Congress to quickly enact the bipartisan “Eviction Crisis Act” to create a permanent ERA program and other new tools to help keep renters stably housed during future crises!
Learn More ([link removed])


** U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH )
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USICH Releases Racial Equity Action Plan
Along with more than 90 other federal agencies, USICH devised a plan to address racial disparities and promote policies that advance equity for all.
Read More ([link removed])


** Bring Impact to Your Inbox
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Receive emails with 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.
Subscribe to the ACEH Weekly Digest ([link removed])
ACEH Weekly Digest for 4/20/2022
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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