I am Alaska Native (Tlingit) and familiar with health care worker issues at the Alaska Native Medical Center campus. Dealing with the homeless will not be new for ANMC health care workers. They deal with the homeless daily. Due to the scarcity (or lack) of programs in Anchorage, the homeless are dropped off by Anchorage police or emergency services, or arrive on their own to the emergency department. Many homeless come to campus on a turnstile and stay for weeks or months at a time; however, they are not ill enough to stay in the hospital. They stay because there are no other places equipped to handle their behavioral needs.
ANMC is not equipped, either. ANMC workers are overworked and the hospital is understaffed. Hopefully, with wrap-around services at the proposed homeless site, traffic will lessen with Mayor Dave Bronson’s plan.
However, we must consider that many folks will not appreciate having the help offered and may opt to walk over to ANMC and stay there instead. It is my hope that everyone who is going to be affected has a seat at the table and plans for contingencies. Let us do everything in our power to keep from overburdening our already stressed front-line workers.
(Tsais Taan) Victoria Canul-Dunne
Anchorage
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