A big STEP forward

Thank you, Anchorage Assembly, for approving $1.5 million toward the community’s Next Step initiative. We appreciate your support!

This funding will help 150 of our neighbors transition from homelessness and emergency cold weather shelter to permanent housing. The Next Step initiative provides each person with one year of support and 200 hours of case management. It also covers the costs of deposits, rent, utilities, and fees associated with getting individuals ready. This includes things like IDs and documentation, applications, viewings, and transportation.

Anchorage Assembly Member Zac Johnson, who initially had concerns about the program’s impact on rents in a tight housing market, became a supporter.

“I'll tell you that I've been convinced. I've been convinced that the types of housing stock that you'll be utilizing and then also the types of tenants who you anticipate seeing the program is such that if it has an effect on market rent, it'll be minimal,” Johnson said before the Assembly vote Tuesday night.

Housing individuals leaving shelter means 150 less people ending up on the streets at the end of April 2024. Already, individuals are getting housing.

“I strongly support this, and part of the reason that I support this is because I think ACEH has demonstrated that they have been able to successfully place and keep housed around 17 people,” Assembly Member Daniel Volland said.

“So I feel like the proof of concept is already there for this program.”