1 p.m.
Summary: Statistics show Housing First has been successful so far, and the Glory Hall is pursuing a move. Next week’s speaker will be Mary Anne Carter, Chairman of the National Endowment of the Arts.
12:50 p.m.
Denton has been asked what the plan is for the old Glory Hall building.
He said the equity of the old building won’t be used to offset building a new Glory Hall.
“The thought was that we would keep the building and lease it and use that money to subsidize our operations,” Denton said.
However, he said he would be in favor of selling the building and investing that money.
An estimated cost for the new building doesn’t sound very firm, but Denton said $400 per square foot sounds likely.
“I really blame that largely on the requirements that come with state and federal grants, so my dream is this thing gets built like a church by a bunch of volunteers,” Denton said.
However he said $2 million to $4 million seems like a fair estimate.
12:45 p.m.
The new facility would be in a properly zoned area, consistent with established neighborhood, secure and service availability.
“I don’t think we could have found a place that’s more appropriate for out needs,” Denton said.
12:35 p.m.
“We just want to elaborate a little more on why the Glory Hall was trying to move,” Lovishchuk said.
She’s handed the microphone over to Glory Hall board member Greg Smith,
He said the decision was a unanimous one by the board and the hope is a new Glory Hall will better help it meet its mission.
Denton is now back up at the lectern and talking about how property could be used if Glory Hall acquires land near Juneau International Airport. It would be near the new sleep off center and include space for building to be occupied by another nonprofit.
“The new location isn’t going to have any increased capacity,” Denton said. “It’s going to be a larger building primarily to isolate the sleeping areas.”
Security and storage would be other improvements of a new facility, Denton said.
Mariya Lovischuk, Executive Director of the Glory Hall, speaks about a possible move by the shelter and soup kitchen during the Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Moose Lodge on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
12:25 p.m.
Lovishchuk said she wants to focus on telling attendees about services Glory Hall offers, which go beyond providing meals and emergency shelter.
Those include outreach, intake, assessment, prevention and running Forget Me Not manner.
“I do want to emphasize how critical the Glory Hall is to Juneau,” she said.
12:22 p.m.
That’s the end of Denton’s update, now up is Lovishchuk.
12:20 p.m.
Denton said his presentation will be fairly informal and an update on Housing First. He will be co-headlining this luncheon with Glory Hall Executive Director Mariya Lovishchuk.
Denton said he’s often asked by people if Housing First is going to happen.
“Yes, Housing First has happened,” Denton said.
A building known as “Forget Me Not Manor,” is located in Lemon Creek.
Phase 1, which contains 32 unites, a health care center and pharmacy came online in 2017, and Phase 2 is expected to come online in fall of 2020.
Six months after Phase 1 came online, a University of Alaska Southeast study found that among residents Bartlett Regional Hospital Emergency Room visits fell by 65 percent, sleep off center visits fell by 99.4 percent, contacts with JPD fell by 72 percent and transport by Capital City Fire/Rescue fell by 54 percent.
“The numbers are quite staggering,” Denton said. “It’s been an extremely successful program and operation.”
12:10 p.m.
Municipal and state elected officials are in attendance today.
Assembly member Mary Becker reminded attendees there is an election coming up, and her seat will be open.
Noon
The meeting is underway. There will be some announcements, the Pledge of Allegiance and a few other things before the talk starts.
11:50 a.m.
Today’s speaker at the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce’s weekly luncheon is Bruce Denton with Housing First and Glory Hall.
I would expect to hear talk of how the state budget could impact services that help homeless people and more about Glory Hall’s potential move to the Mendenhall Valley.
[Read about both matters here]
• Contact reporter Ben Hohenstatt at (907)523-2243 or bhohenstatt@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BenHohenstatt.
