Assemblyman Felix Rivera and his Sanctioned Camp Community Task Force will present recommendations to the Anchorage Assembly for establishing various homeless camps around the city of Anchorage. The Assembly will consider a Resolution on the plan:
District 1, North Anchorage | Vacant Land that was formerly Viking Drive from Reeve Blvd. to Commercial Dr.
Total capacity: 50 to 75 individuals
Start date: May 31, 2023
Closure date: August 1, 2023
Structure: Tents
Population: Single adults
Model: Low barrier
District 3, West Anchorage | Clitheroe Center
Total capacity: 30 to 40 individuals
Start date: May 31, 2023
Closure date: September 1, 2024
Structure: Cars and tents
Population: Single adults
Model: Dry, i.e. non-substance use
District 4, Midtown | 40th and Denali, i.e. National Archives site
Total capacity: 50 to 75 individuals
Start date: June 19, 2023
Closure date: September 1, 2024
Structure: Tents; transition to Pallet Shelters and tiny homes
Population: Single adults
Model: Low barrier
District 5, East Anchorage | Centennial Park Campground
Total capacity: 50 to 75 individuals
Start date: May 31, 2023
Closure date: September 4, 2023
Structure: Tents limited only to established campsites
Population: Single adults
Model: Low barrier with structured supports; transition to an intentional camp
District 6, South Anchorage | 1805 Academy Drive
Total capacity: 20 to 40 individuals
Start date: May 31, 2023
Closure date: Year-round operation until such time as the building can no longer be occupied
Structure: ASD relocatable buildings and rooms in the building
Population: Current population staying at the Sullivan Arena
Model: Low barrier with structured supports
Rivera said that each camp will have will have a designated operator to assist with management and ensure all minimum standards and service needs are met. The Anchorage Health Department staff will be responsible for oversight of all contracted operators.
The operators will be responsible for engaging with nearby community councils and securing a Good Neighbor Agreement, Rivera said. There will also be a designated staff member within the Anchorage Health Department which community members can contact with concerns. Once selected, the contact information for that designated staff member will be published on the Anchorage Health Department website.
The Sanctioned Camps Task Force, created in April by the Assembly, was tasked with evaluating and presenting recommendations to the Anchorage Assembly and Municipal Administration on the feasibility of sheltering community options, including sanctioned camps, pallet shelters, modular buildings and relocatable temporary buildings. The task force will continue to work on identifying mid-to-long term recommendations before July 6, 2023.
In addition to the sanctioned homeless encampment plan, the Assembly will likely approve Resolution No. AR 2023-169, appropriating $757,500 as a transfer from the 2023 Maintenance and Operations Department Operating Budget, Areawide General Fund to the Areawide Capital Improvement Projects Fund for the Golden Lion hotel, to cover the repair costs to make it function as a rooming facility for homeless.
The Golden Lion hotel was purchased by former Mayor Ethan Berkowitz to create a drug treatment center, but has run into substantial community resistance.
