Homeless to Housed Press Conference

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Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness (ACEH)


** WEEKLY DIGEST
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Spotlight


** Photo by Matt Waliszek
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** Homeless to Housed - 04/25/2022
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** The press conference on Monday was a monumental event as the community came together with the common goal to address homelessness in Anchorage.
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Updates and remarks were given on the implementation of the facilitated Mass Care Exit ([link removed]) Strategy ([link removed]) by Meg Zaletel, ACEH Interim Executive Director, Mayor Dave Bronson, Assembly Member Felix Rivera, as well as private and public funders. The event was live-streamed and is available to watch here: 04/25/2022 Homeless to Housed ([link removed])

Thank you to the following partners and stakeholders: Rasmuson Foundation, Chugach Alaska Corporation, Calista Corporation, Doyon, Limited, Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, Mayor Dave Bronson, Anchorage Assembly, Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska, Providence Alaska and Weidner Apartment Homes.

Click on the links below for press coverage of the event:
* www.adn.com ([link removed])
* www.alaskasnewssource.com ([link removed])
* www.alaskapublic.org ([link removed])

“Along with our many partners, we are having success connecting our neighbors experiencing homelessness to housing that meets their individual needs. We need all hands on deck to continue this momentum! Community partnership and collaboration is key to making homelessness in Anchorage rare, brief and one-time.”

- Meg Zaletel, ACEH Interim Executive Director
View the Press Release ([link removed])


** 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])


** The First Day of the EHV Fair was a Huge Success!
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The ACEH team, HUD TA, and 99 Plus 1 spent the day assisting individuals sign up for Emergency Housing Vouchers at the Sullivan Arena and the Aviator. The response was incredible and they exceeded their goal of 100 applications within the first day of the two day event.

"We did in 6 hours what we planned to do in 16." said Celia MacLeod, Director of Programs & Services (mailto:[email protected]) . "We got 120+ applications, and with only 90 spots.

A big THANK YOU to all involved, including Cook Inlet Tribal Council, South Central Foundation, the Anchorage Health Department, and the HUD TA team, who were all instrumental in the success of this event. Also a huge shout out to 99 Plus 1 for all they did to make the fair run smoothly at the Sullivan.

ACEH would never have been able to fulfill its mission of making homelessness brief, rare, and one time without the support and generosity of this community.

For information on similar events in the future, contact Celia Macleod, ACEH Director of Programs & Services at: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Future%20Events)


** Tomorrow at 4 PM - 04/28/2022
Homeless Prevention & Response System Advisory Council Monthly Meeting

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The Homeless Prevention & Response System (HPRS) Advisory Council (AC) will meet during this 1-hour period to discuss relevant Anchorage Continuum of Care initiatives and current events.

Special Presentation:
Adult Shelter/Navigation Center
- Presented by Bob Doehl & Meg Zaletel

Contact the HPRS Advisory Council or register for public comment: [email protected]

Meeting Details:

View Full 4/28/2022 Meeting Agenda Here ([link removed])
Meetings will be recorded for meeting minutes and record-keeping purposes.

Zoom Meeting: Click to join ([link removed])

Meeting ID: 870 7123 1355
Passcode: 362033
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Meeting ID: 870 7123 1355
Passcode: 362033
Event Details ([link removed])


** This Weekend
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])


** Click here for ([link removed]) Local Giving & Volunteer Opportunities ([link removed])
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** 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])


** Alaska News Source
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"Anchorage Assembly supports creation of an Alaska Housing Trust

Families facing housing insecurity in Alaska is an issue that statistics say is only getting worse, especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Anchorage Assembly and a local nonprofit want to see Alaska catch up with what other states are doing to tackle housing insecurity.

A recent U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey found that more than 30% of Alaskan adults live in homes that are not current on rent or mortgages, where eviction is likely in the next two months, according to a resolution ([link removed]) brought forward by assembly member Forrest Dunbar and Vice Chair Chris Constant.

Additionally, between January and November of 2021, more than 15,000 Alaskans accessed homeless services, according to the resolution text.

According to the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, the state’s vacancy rate dropped in 2021, from 9.2% in 2020 to 5.9%, the resolution states. In Anchorage, that rate ([link removed]) is 4.3%.

The resolution submitted by Dunbar and Constant and recently passed by the assembly supports the creation of the Alaska Housing Trust, which would be a statewide funding source that would work to “produce, preserve, and protect housing,” according to documents ([link removed]) provided by the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness."

- Excerpt from article By Steve Kirch
Read the Full Article ([link removed])


** Alaska Public Library
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CONNECT: Housing

MAY 6, 2022 - 2 - 5 PM
MOUNTAIN VIEW LIBRARY, COMMUNITY ROOM

Join us every 1st Friday for:
Support Searching for Housing Options
Coordinated Entry Assessments
Landlord/Tenant Legal Resources
Assisted Living & Group Home Resources

Helpful Things to Bring:
* Social Security Number(s)
* Photo ID/Driver's License
* HR Confirmation Number
* Mailing address

For more information contact:
Ziona Brownlow, Asst. Community Resource Coordinator
(907) 885-9508
[email protected]
View Connect: Housing Flier ([link removed])
View Connect: Nutrition Flier ([link removed])
View Connect: Muldoon Flier ([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])


** Municipality of Anchorage (MOA)
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Joint Statement from the Anchorage Administration and Legislative Drafting Group

Today, the Anchorage Administration and Legislative Drafting Group announced a resolution for consideration at the April 26 Regular Assembly Meeting which affirms the following:
1. The Municipality commits to achieving the goals of Housing First and functional zero within 2 years from the date construction is complete and the Navigation Center is fully operational.
2. The Municipality commits to developing a program for low barrier shelter and for a navigation center utilizing both local and national subject matter experts, which (1) utilizes Housing First principles, the five keys to effective low barrier shelter and meets the adopted definition of what constitutes a Navigation Center, (2) join the Navigation Center community of practice, (3) identify a dedicated point person within the Administration to participate and bring additional MOA employees to participate as appropriate and requested, and (4) the program developed by this work group will be used to evaluate responses to any requests for proposals for operators of the low barrier shelter and navigation center at this location.
3. The Municipality commits to ending operations of the Navigation Center once the following has been achieved:

(1) At any point in time, the number of people experiencing sheltered or unsheltered homelessness will be no greater than the current monthly housing placement rate for people experiencing homelessness, or (2) where the total number of people experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness in the Municipality is less than one hundred and fifty (150).
4. The Navigation Center is considered an emergency shelter location and use of emergency surge capacity will be activated and deactivated following requirements in AMC chapter 16.120, Emergency Shelter Plan for Homeless Persons.
5. The Municipality calls upon all community partners to work together in achieving these community goals.


The above commitments mirror the true intent of the Navigation Center, which is to transition individuals to housing, and sets us on a path to achieving functional zero, which is a milestone that indicates a community has measurably ended homelessness for a population. Functional zero is a top goal of the Anchored Home Plan.
View Full Press Release ([link removed])


** National Housing & Homelessness Highlights
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** National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)
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NLIHC Releases The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes
NLIHC released its annual report The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes ([link removed]) , finding the lowest-income renters in the U.S. face a shortage of approximately 7 million affordable and available rental homes. Drawing on multiple data sources, the report documents how the pandemic has exacerbated the housing crisis for the lowest-income renters. The report examines both short- and long-term policy interventions needed to address the immediate housing impacts of the pandemic and the underlying shortage of affordable housing.
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 4/27/2022
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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PO Box 243041
Anchorage, AK 99524

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