Cramming 150 residents into a COVID-prone, sleepless space without basic showers and food service means sickness and unemployability. Located without the proximity to soup kitchens, neighbors face increasing crime as unemployed residents seek money to eat. The space is only suitable for men, too dangerous for women and youth now camping in makeshift tents, or derelict cars — often traumatized and risking their lives on the streets. Closing camps is heartless since there are almost 900 without housing.
Women’s shelters are full.
Covenant House is giving “at-risk youth” overflow gym floor space for sleeping.
Twenty percent of the homeless are abused women or victims of crime who deserve a shelter with licensed counselors — currently unavailable. The mayor’s suggestion for a 1,000-bed facility puts women in danger of more abuse and violence.
Where do single young women shelter? On the street?
In garbage bag tents? Or in mass shelters where they constantly risk abuse from men “hitting on” them? Are they forced to couple up for safety?
A substantial portion of our homeless neighbors have mental health issues. Our navigation centers help them get food stamps, day jobs, and shelter but fail to address long-range goals. They fail to help the addicted or mentally challenged receive qualified counseling to instigate recovery, fail to provide effective job training/career counseling.
Property owners, as good Alaskans, continue to pay for homelessness. We need a sales tax targeted to homelessness and treatment. Otherwise, we’ll fill our prisons at an annual cost of $55,000 per person. Our leadership is failing to instigate a plan.
Recovery means less community crime and less homelessness, as people heal to fill job vacancies and become good citizens.
— Marty Margeson
Anchorage
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