Anchorage

Anchorage Assembly resolution asks acting mayor to find alternative to mass shelter at Sullivan Arena

The Anchorage Assembly on Tuesday will consider a resolution requesting that the acting mayor’s administration come up with a transition plan for the emergency homeless shelter at the Sullivan Arena.

Last year, the city’s Emergency Operations Center implemented a mass shelter at the Sullivan Arena for people experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The funding for that comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and it runs out Sept. 30.

[A year in, Sullivan Arena may be the biggest mass homeless shelter in the nation. What happens next?]

The resolution requests that by April 15, the acting mayor “develop and provide a plan for transition and demobilization of the congregate and non-congregate mass shelter locations.”

The resolution asks that the current and the coming mayoral administrations report to the Assembly on the transition plan every two weeks through October.

A new mayor will be elected this spring and take office on July 1.

A plan needs to be underway well before a new mayor takes office, said Assembly member Christopher Constant, a sponsor of the resolution along with member Meg Zaletel.

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The city must begin to seek alternative housing options for people who need help, rather than the emergency mass shelter system.

The resolution is a conversation starter, Constant said.

“It’s really a nudge — it’s a prompt,” he said. “We need a plan.”

Emily Goodykoontz

Emily Goodykoontz is a reporter covering Anchorage local government and general assignments. She previously covered breaking news at The Oregonian in Portland before joining ADN in 2020. Contact her at egoodykoontz@adn.com.

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