The Municipality of Anchorage awarded the contract to continue mass care shelter to contractor 99 Plus 1, Inc. The contract with Bean’s Cafe to run the mass care shelter ends Sept. 15.
“I am pleased that mass care shelter will continue without disruption in service,” said Mayor Dave Bronson. “One of my top priorities has been a commitment to helping our homeless neighbors in need.”
It will continue for now at the Sullivan Arena, although the mayor’s plan is to have a navigation center for those experiencing homelessness on Tudor Road at Elmore Road.
As part of the transition to 99 Plus 1, an Anchorage company, no clients will have to leave and there will be adequate staff, Bronson said. There will be bedding, food, and navigation services available.
99 Plus 1, Inc. will be onsite at the Sullivan Arena on Monday, Sept. 13 to interview prospective employees. Although Bean’s Cafe applied to continue running the mass care services, the nonprofit did not win the contract.
The contract is not indefinite; it will end on Oct. 31. The plan is to move forward with Bronson’s initial plans and get the Sullivan Arena back to use as a hockey venue. Bronson is being blocked by the liberal members of the Assembly, who want to continue to use the facility as a homeless shelter until they can push through their own plan, which differs from the mayor’s.
