Over 130 People Permanently Housed!

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Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness (ACEH)


** WEEKLY DIGEST
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** GuestHouse is now permanent housing for more than 130 formally unhoused individuals!
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** Purchase finalized to make downtown Anchorage hotel into low-income and supportive housing for formerly homeless
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More than 130 people who have been experiencing homeless in Anchorage now have permanent housing after a deal closed last week to permanently transform a former hotel downtown into a low-income workforce and supportive housing complex. The city began using the building as an emergency homeless shelter and quarantine site early in the pandemic ([link removed]) , and for the last few months it has been a transitional housing facility for homeless residents.

The long-awaited sale of the former GuestHouse Inn to a local nonprofit was finalized Sept. 12. Its residents are now in the midst of a shift as the property transitions into a privately-owned and operated housing program, after two years of being operated by the city.

A majority of people who have been living in the former transitional shelter as homeless clients will now be renters, leasing their rooms with the support of rental assistance and housing vouchers. Remaining vacancies are being filled by others experiencing homelessness who are moving in after staying elsewhere. Continue Reading... ([link removed])

By Emily Goodykoontz, September 23, 2022
Read Full Article ([link removed])
Hotels to Housing Case Studies ([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])


** Emergency Shelter Task Force Recommendations & Cost Comparison
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Last Monday, September 19th, 2022, the Task Force submitted emergency shelter recommendations to the Anchorage Assembly. View the full recommendations on the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness website: [link removed] ([link removed]) (View highlights below.)

FACILITIES / LOCATIONS

The locations that met all the above criteria were then grouped into two tiers:
* Tier 1 – Locations that can reasonably be placed in operation immediately (target September 30) and remain in operation for up to 90 days. Realistically Tier 1 locations are those that are owned by the MOA and those that are owned by existing shelter operators with the potential for immediate expansion subject to funding. The 90-day time period provides for the operator to have assurance for a minimum term of operations.
* Tier 2 – Locations that have the potential to be placed in operation in approximately 90 days including those that need additional investigation to validate owner interest and property suitability. Tier 2 locations include primarily commercial properties and hotels (for housing conversions) where negotiations with owners are necessary and where physical site reviews need to be conducted to confirm suitability and safety. As potential Tier 2 locations are brought online the Tier 1 locations could be phased out to reduce community impacts depending on capacity needs and utilization.

Tier 1 Locations (in no particular order)
* Golden Lion: This location has 85 units of non-congregate capacity. The units are already furnished, and the site could be turned on immediately with no impact to current operations or users.
* Dempsey or Boeke Ice Arenas: Dempsey is the preferred location due to Ben Boeke’s downtown location and concerns about concentration of homelessness services downtown. Both have similar capacity (240-260) and costs associated with operations. Having two separate rinks provides spacing for subpopulations within the facility such as men in one rink and special populations – women, couples, LGBTQIA+, disabilities – in the other. The Eagle River Mac Center was discussed but not included as a recommended Tier 1 location due to its distance from the homeless population.
* Sullivan Arena: This location is adequately sized, however in comparison to the other Tier 1 locations there will be increased operational expense because of facility layout challenges, less ability to control offsite impacts with proximity to the Chester Creek Trail, and uncertainty if the facility is under active repairs from the 2018 earthquake. Having two levels allows for separation of subpopulations within the facility such as men on the arena floor and special Rev Sept 19, 2022 – revisions are italicized Page 4 of 8 populations – women, couples, LGBTQIA+, disabilities – on the mezzanine. Operational expenses would depend on the total census and whether subpopulations can be accommodated in less than the full facility – i.e. only the arena floor or mezzanine.
* Dena’ina or Egan Centers: These locations have adequate size however are less desirable due to their downtown location and the lack of shower facilities. If, however, these sites do warrant further consideration it is possible to use trailer mounted showers indoors and a company in Fairbanks has been identified that has such units immediately available.
* Spenard and Fairview Recreation Centers: These locations meet the primary Tier 1 screening criteria but Removed from consideration and not recommended because the Mayor indicated removal from the Administration’s plan which means unlikely to be implemented even if recommended.
* Existing program capacity expansion: Covenant House, Brother Francis Shelter and Beans Café have indicated that they have the potential to turn on additional capacity very quickly if funding is made available. These sites are not adequate for the total capacity needed but would significantly augment the overall emergency shelter system. There may be additional existing shelter providers who could also provide incremental capacity with available funding. Brother Francis additional capacity has already been funded by a prior appropriation.

View: Tier 2 Recommendations ([link removed]) (pages 4-5)
View: Operational Costs ([link removed]) (pages 5-6)
View: S ([link removed]) ite Evaluations ([link removed])
The above cost analysis shows that the most cost-effective option is housing in a MOA owned building or a purchased hotel conversion, particularly because they leverage federal Emergency Rental Assistance funds for rents.9 The second most cost effective option is a leased hotel for housing or noncongregate shelter. Congregate shelter in a MOA site and leased site congregate shelters are the most expensive options.
Above: the assumptions for the Cost Comparison Analysis
View Full Task Force Recommendations ([link removed])
View Task Force Site Evaluations ([link removed])
About the ES Task Force
The Emergency Shelter Task Force (“Task Force”) is charged by the Anchorage Assembly with recommending options for emergency shelter for the winter of 2022-2023 (approximately October to April) for adults experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Anchorage.


** Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO): Links for next steps
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New Project Application Detailed Instructions
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Renewal Project Application Detailed Instructions
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HUD resources for Project Applications in e-snaps
[link removed]

If you have any questions regarding the funding recommendations, please contact us at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .
Learn More ([link removed])


** Local Updates
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** Anchorage Public Library
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September’s Connect: Mountain View Event, is tomorrow, Thursday 9/22 from 2-5pm at the Anchorage Public Library ([link removed][0]=AZW6zLqxs0z6WOGYaB_ZPSqfLWFAnhELPhLCZKZJPhskra9AeVMBPeoyEkTt7QLklF3u5cI_Qvi_1t9hAdGrABGDNW2B2s9YbmSNFdvreIDzXgCsq9ZEiVLpGWWu5verRg4H3VT9DD-e77LHiYqu9D9JjPJ1fpcCh1KXaFOCUPsi7VdsiDf8mhRXGeIwuDM3gA9PhpqRvdTObDF2B4GOtJID&__tn__=kK-R) , Community Room

Join APL's Community Resource Coordinators and their network of partners to learn how you can connect to resources for food, housing, health care, education, and more!

Contact: Ziona Brownlow, 907-885-9508, [email protected]
Download & Share Flyer ([link removed])


** Don't Miss Out!
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Past editions of the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness Weekly Digests are available on our website: [link removed] ([link removed])


** Or follow us on social media!
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** National Updates
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** National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH)
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Catch Up on Recent NOFO Webinars
Haven’t been able to attend the Alliance’s recent webinars? View the recordings and accompanying materials:
* What You Need to Know about the 2022 COC Program Competition ([link removed])
* The 2022 CoC Program Competition Prioritizes Racial Equity and LGBTQ+ Anti-Discrimination: How to Get Started ([link removed])
* Funding Opportunities: Learn More About HUD’s Special NOFO to Address Rural Homelessness and New Stability Housing Voucher Program ([link removed])

These webinars are part of the 2022 NOFO Resource Series ([link removed]) and the 2022 Unsheltered and Rural Homelessness Supplemental NOFO Resource Series ([link removed]) .


** National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)
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NLIHC Releases Welcome to Vote Pledge and Celebrates National Voter Registration Day

NLIHC’s nonpartisan Our Homes, Our Votes campaign today announced the Welcome to Vote Pledge, a joint declaration among affordable housing providers that are committed to registering and mobilizing their residents to vote. The initial list of pledge signers includes 22 organizations that collectively own or manage more than 257,000 units across 41 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The launch of the pledge coincides with the tenth annual National Voter Registration Day ([link removed]) (September 20, 2022), a national, nonpartisan civic holiday dedicated to celebrating our democracy by registering as many eligible Americans to vote as possible. Signers of the Welcome to Vote Pledge commit to integrating voter registration into the lease-up and income recertification processes at their properties, encouraging nonpartisan voter education and mobilization activities in the 2022
election cycle, and undertaking all voter engagement work in a fully nonpartisan manner and in compliance with all relevant state election laws. The full text of the pledge can be found here ([link removed]) .

“Through nonpartisan efforts to register and mobilize low-income renters and people experiencing homelessness to vote, we can further raise the profile of housing in the national conversation and continue to build the political will for bold solutions,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel. “As the Welcome to Vote Pledge demonstrates, many affordable housing providers are deeply committed to facilitating access to the ballot for all of their residents. We are grateful for their partnership on the nonpartisan Our Homes, Our Votes campaign’s efforts to close the voter turnout gap between low-income renters and high-income homeowners.”

Because renters move more frequently than homeowners, they must update their voter registration more often. This additional hurdle contributes to the gaps in voter registration and turnout rates between renters and homeowners, and – alongside transportation barriers, less flexible work schedules, strict voter identification laws, language barriers, polling place closures, voter purges, and other restrictive voter laws – even greater disparities between low-income and high-income people. The Our Homes, Our Votes campaign’s Housing Providers Council ([link removed]) , a nonpartisan coalition of affordable housing developers and property managers, offers tools and resources that empower housing providers to organize accessible voter registration opportunities and get out the vote. Housing providers that are interested in joining this initiative can sign up here
([link removed]) .

NLIHC encourages our partners to ensure that they are registered to vote and to participate in their communities’ nonpartisan voter registration efforts. Here are some additional ways to celebrate National Voter Registration Day:
* Visit Vote.org ([link removed]) to register or check your voter registration status. Once you are registered, reach out to your friends and family members to make sure their voter registration is up to date.
* Find a National Voter Registration Day event ([link removed]) in your community.
* Post on social media using sample materials from the Our Homes, Our Votes media toolkit. ([link removed]) Use the hashtags #VoteReady and #OurHomesOurVotes22, and be sure to tag @OurHomesVotes.
* Sign up for the Our Homes, Our Votes webinar series ([link removed]) , which takes place every other Monday at 2:30 pm ET.
* Advocate for the Our Homes, Our Votes Act ([link removed]) , which would facilitate voter registration for all residents of federally subsidized housing.

For inquiries about the Welcome to Vote Pledge or National Voter Registration Day, please contact [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .
Join the Housing Providers Council ([link removed])
ACEH Weekly Digest for 9/21/2022
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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