Anchorage Assembly candidates: How should we address homelessness in the city?

Alaska Dispatch News asked candidates for the April 4 election to the Anchorage Assembly to answer a series of questions on the issues. We're publishing their responses daily. The answers were fact-checked when facts were cited and edited for length, spelling, grammar and writing style.

Question: Do you agree with the way the administration of Mayor Ethan Berkowitz is addressing homelessness?

District 1: Downtown

Mark Alan Martinson

In addition to a place to live, people also need to be part of something that they can work together at; so I think more people need to have activities along with just a place to lay their head. In a larger Alaska-wide view, we need to get more people moving back to rural communities, but that's another story. Perhaps the collective efforts of Alaska rural communities could assist with the problem. But meanwhile, the current way often encourages people to take advantage of the system.

Albert Langdon Swank Jr.

Chronic public inebriation, illegal drug use, property trespass, property crimes and other issues need to be addressed. I have observed similar problems in other states and locations with some addressing the issues more appropriately than others.

Warren West

No, but it is his vision and his administration can run it with his style.

Christopher Constant

I support the intensive focus of the Berkowitz administration and the Assembly on the issue of homelessness. The simplest answer of how to end homelessness is to provide housing. I have worked closely with the mayor — starting on his homelessness transition team — to ensure that the mix of Housing First units doesn't fall disproportionately on any one geographic area. While administrations for the past 40 years have been working on the issue, this mayor is taking a strategic and long-term approach to solving the problem. His efforts aren't without issue, but for the most part, he's right on track.

Christopher Cox

I have been in low income housing for 25 years. I have dealt with the homeless situation firsthand for all of these years. Throwing more money at this situation will never ever fix the situation. Creating new housing for the homeless will never solve the situation. Ethan Berkowitz with all of his plans to solve the issue will never ever work because he is not getting at the heart of the problem. The heart of this problem is not simply to build them a house or give them a job or a place to stay; it goes far beyond that. There are jobs available in this town. There are low-income housing units available in this town. Many, many, many of the people that are homeless will not take a job and certainly not pay their rent.

David Dunsmore

The mayor has done a good job at directing the resources available to immediately help the most vulnerable members of our community, but we need a long-term comprehensive solution to end homelessness in Anchorage. We need to build more transitional housing and increase our substance abuse and mental health treatment capacity. Right now we have fewer alcohol detox beds available than Fairbanks and our methadone clinic is so overworked the only new patients it can accept are pregnant women. I will craft a comprehensive bond package to build these new facilities and put us on the path to ending homelessness.

District 2: Chugiak-Eagle River

John Laurence Brassell

The issue of homelessness is complex and daunting. I believe in giving a hand up, not a hand out. Unlike the current administration, I believe the best way to address this problem is through the private sector. We need to encourage and engage with community partners to provide skills training and development opportunities for those willing and able to work to improve their circumstances.

Fred Dyson

The "homeless problem" is difficult and nearly impossible to solve. A significant portion of the homeless population has real mental health problems that take time and resources (read money) to solve. None of that will happen without the involved person being able to work diligently toward being clean, sober and mentally capable. The city spends enormous amounts of money keeping homeless people from freezing to death. Ethan's "housing first" plan has apparently been helpful in other states, but the published costs per apartment here appear to be way out of line and there is no ready sources of money to pay for it.

Gretchen Wehmhoff

Homelessness increases crime, addiction and, sadly, death in all areas of Anchorage. It has become more prevalent in Chugiak-Eagle River. We must find data-driven ways to help our homeless find help while maintaining public safety. Karluk Manor has shown a decrease in repeat police calls and has given those with alcohol addiction a chance to find recovery, although not all have found it. Still, every time a camp is displaced, lawn furniture and tarps go missing from nearby resident homes. Observing other city's successes and strategizing for our northern climate is important. We must continue to be vigilant.

Patrick Donnelly

Did not respond to questions.

District 3: West Anchorage

Tim Steele

Yes. The new mayor/administration and many other Anchorage groups have applied for, and obtained national grants. We are organizing and building a system that is flexible and comprehensive and has a great possibility of success for our residents in need.

David Nees

The expense of Housing First is prohibitive. The homeless count increased, and is concentrated mostly in one Assembly district. This has been a money windfall for nonprofits, and they are not motivated to reduce homelessness. I attended the Governor's Council on the Homelessness and was disappointed to learn the focus was on how to get more money from the feds, not on ending homelessness. I believe Anchorage needs to focus on helping working, low-income single parents find affordable housing; this is a better investment.

District 4: Midtown

Don Smith

Did not address the question in a factual way.

Ron Alleva

I totally disagree with the administration's addressing of the homelessness issue. For 36 years, I've opened my home and business, which are next to Brother Francis Shelter and Bean's, to the homeless. During any one of those years, I have employed over 150 homeless. I can tell you from my experience that programs like Housing First don't work and burdening Fairview with the heavy load of social services is wrong. Nothing is "first" in addressing this issue; it is complex and must be aggressively addressed from all avenues. Enabling the subculture of homeless to grow is not a solution

Felix Rivera

For years, Anchorage residents have called upon the municipality to take serious action to target and eradicate homelessness. I'm thankful that the Berkowitz administration is taking this call to action seriously and has devoted resources to these efforts, with the goal of eradicating chronic homelessness. We should be using innovative tactics and the leading research to address homelessness. That means supporting Housing First with a holistic approach that includes rehabilitative services. I have also been a proponent of looking at creative solutions, which have had a proven track record in the Lower 48 — for example, tiny home villages.

Marcus Sanders

Yes, I agree with and support any program that supports homeless people being housed. We could house every homeless person today. We have vacant rooms, apartment, and homes in Anchorage right now. As your assemblyman, I'm willing to work with private investment groups, real estate company's public, nonprofits, faith-based organizations and law enforcement to solve this problem.

District 5: East Anchorage

Pete Petersen

Yes, I agree with his homeless policies. The homeless problem was allowed to grow in past years and now it has become a much more difficult problem to solve. Several other cities around the country have successfully used the Housing First model to greatly reduce their number of homeless. In the last two years we've moved 180 people out of homelessness and many are now gainfully employed and living productive independent lives. There are still 200 or more homeless so we have more work to do but we are headed in the right direction.

Don Jones

Homelessness is an epidemic in our community, and I commend the Berkowitz administration for trying to solve the problem. I do disagree, however, with the notion that spending more taxpayer money will solve this problem. Our homeless men and women need opportunities to find work, and that happens when our economy is strong. I'll work with Mayor Berkowitz to solve this problem, but I won't rubber stamp tax increases that would only make Anchorage a more unaffordable place to live.

District 6: South Anchorage

Suzanne LaFrance

The transition to a Housing First model has created a more efficient and effective process toward self-sustainability. It is cheaper than emergency shelter and responses. It saves lives and saves the city money. I agree with the additional focus on data-driven homeless camp counts, as well as the camp cleanup programs that make our parks safer for everyone.

Albert Fogle

Homelessness is a chronic problem; the municipality must be innovative in addressing many complicated issues. I am in favor of the Housing First program due to the cost savings to the municipality, as long as their facility locations are close to the essential services residents may require in the respective area. Every neighborhood needs to do their part. The municipality needs to look beyond creating another government-run program to manage the homeless population. The city needs to work closely with the federal government, the private sector, nonprofit organizations, the faith-based community and Native corporations to address this issue.

Tomorrow: Taxes and revenue.