The need for water bottles has been filled!

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Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness (ACEH)


** WEEKLY DIGEST
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** The need for water bottles has been filled!
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Thank you to all the community members who answered the call for reusable water bottles. With your help, we have met the need and we are extremely grateful. It takes a community to end homelessness. Thank you for doing your part.
Learn More Ways to Get Involved ([link removed])


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


** May ’22 Built for Zero ([link removed]) Data
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– Individuals housed: 137
– Individuals new to homelessness: 295
– Individuals who accessed homelessness services and supports: 3,255

View the full Data Dashboard ([link removed])


** Without coordination at the Municipal level, Centennial Park will continue to be unsafe
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As news comes out about the status of Centennial Park, there are serious concerns about the safety of those staying there and the community. There are reports that people are showing up to the campground without tents, blankets, or options for basic shelter required for sleeping outside. Additionally, there are reported concerns regarding food storage, bear encounters, security, sanitation, and food, all of which were avoidable with communication between the Mayor’s office and the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness and the Homelessness Prevention Response System (HPRS). Based on comments from the Mayor’s office there is not a plan for staffing the property, explicitly stating this is not a homelessness response, yet that is exactly what is needed.

After ensuring that people leaving the Sullivan Arena were supported, ACEH staff and HPRS providers immediately started to respond to the most significant unmet needs at Centennial Park, asking the community to come forward with water, water bottles, padlocks to secure tents, sunscreen, bug spray and hygiene supplies before the long holiday weekend. Beans Café is donating food, and with the number of people staying there likely to change significantly in the coming days, it is unknown how sustainable this service is. Without a point person in the Municipality to manage resources being directed to Centennial Park, ACEH believes there will be limited ability to serve the approximately 150+ people staying there. A strategic distribution system is needed. While the community has assisted with immediate needs, without coordinated intervention and ongoing resources, this last-minute decision by the Municipality will continue to present major challenges to campers’ and the community’s safety. Read
more... ([link removed])

Read Full Press Release ([link removed])


** Food Distribution for Unsheltered

Tuesdays & Thursdays, 11 am - 2 pm - food distribution to help unsheltered individuals.

Locations:
Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church Alaska ([link removed]) , 855 E 20th Ave Anchorage AK 99501
First United Methodist Church - Anchorage ([link removed]) , 725 W 9th Ave Anchorage AK 99501
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Download Graphic to Share ([link removed])


** Updated Coordinated Entry (CE) Access Points
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Those in need of services contact an Access Point to complete an assessment. This assessment provides information on the household’s vulnerability and length of time experiencing homelessness. After completing the assessment, the household is placed in a pool of households eligible to receive a referral to various housing programs.

View Updated CE List ([link removed])

If you know of any updates or additions that need to be made to this list please contact Mac Lyons, Coordinated Entry Manager: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Update%20CE%20List)
Learn More ([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 Daily News (ADN)
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As state COVID emergency ends, tens of thousands of Alaskans will see reduced food stamp benefits

Tens of thousands of Alaskans will lose access to expanded food stamp benefits in September after the state ends its public health emergency in July.

The end of certain additional benefits under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program comes as food aid groups say need is reaching previous pandemic highs ([link removed]) while prices are soaring. Plus, other pandemic-era benefits, like the child tax credit and rental assistance, are expiring too, said Cara Durr, director of public engagement at the Food Bank of Alaska.

“We know families are struggling and they are turning to services,” Durr said. “So this is really coming in the middle of what is kind of a perfect storm.”
Read Full Article ([link removed])


** Alaska Behavioral Health
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Peer Support Train the Trainer!
Calling all Peer Support Professionals! Train the trainer two-day class this week!
July 7 & 8, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm via Zoom

This training is designed to prepare active peer support professionals to train their oncoming peer team members and active/outgoing consumers by using the state approved Alaska Behavioral Health forty-hour training.

Learn how to make the class your own while holding true to the content and desired outcomes. Are you ready to take your peer strengths to the next level? Apply for Train the Trainer here! ([link removed])


** Choosing Our Roots (COR)
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This month, COR opened a new bridge housing program for queer youth awaiting host homes!

Due to the high demand for COR services, and the ongoing need for more hosts, there is always a waitlist for youth to be matched with host homes. Young queer and trans people who experience homelessness face many significant risks when staying in shelters, living on the streets, or couchsurfing in crowded situations. This multi-unit apartment building will provide safe, stable housing in private units, while continuing to provide participants with wraparound supports. Read More... ([link removed])
Read More ([link removed])


** Henning Inc.
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The Emergency Rental Assistance program (ERA) is for residents in Anchorage, Alaska who are or at risk of homelessness. ERA will provide financial support for individuals to pay for rent. Applications are currently being accepted from now until September through our website henninginc.org. This program was created to help prevent individuals from becoming homeless. Once you apply, we will review your application and reach out to you with our decision with whatever contact information you have provided.

Need more info? Call at 907-312-4983
Apply Now ([link removed])


** United Way of Anchorage
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"With the closure of the Sullivan Arena as a mass care site, we are seeing a massive increase in the number of unsheltered people in Anchorage.

Our Alaska 2-1-1 team is on the frontline responding to callers seeking help. Our community resource specialists are connected and working hard to keep current with available shelter as shared by the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness, our partners, and others. Unfortunately, there are simply not enough resources right now to house and shelter those who need it.

This unprecedented situation is one that requires a response from the entire community and every level of government. I encourage you to contact your elected representatives at every level to urge them to, at minimum, provide the resources needed to safely shelter those in need..."

- Clark Halvorson, President & CEO of United Way of Anchorage


** National Updates
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** Community Solutions
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What’s the most immediate way to end a person’s homelessness? Provide them with a safe and stable home.

Housing First is an approach that centers on the belief that everyone is ready for housing — right now.

The theory is simple: People need basic necessities, like a safe place to live, before they can focus on other priorities like improving mental health, maintaining a budget, or searching for and maintaining employment.
Learn More ([link removed])


** Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
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CoC Program Special NOFO Digest: Unsheltered Homelessness

On June 22, 2022, the Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Supplemental Funding Opportunity to Address Unsheltered and Rural Homelessness (Special Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)) ([link removed]) was announced. This is a first-of-its-kind package of resources to address unsheltered homelessness and homeless encampments including funds set aside specifically to address homelessness in rural communities.
Applications for the Unsheltered and Rural Homelessness NOFO ([link removed]) must be submitted no later than October 20, 2022, at 8:00 PM EDT.

To support communities in developing their plans to address rural and unsheltered homelessness, existing Technical Assistance (TA) resources are being highlighted through a series of listserv messages.
Learn More ([link removed])


** National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)
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Sign Up Today for the Upcoming Issue of Tenant Talk!

NLIHC is gearing up to release a special edition of Tenant Talk later this summer focusing on the importance of engaging renters in the voting process! Sign up by July 29 to receive a free paper copy in the mail.
Sign Up Here to Receive a Paper Copy ([link removed])
ACEH Weekly Digest for 7/6/2022
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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