Housing and Homelessness

Current facilities operated by the private nonprofit Gastineau Human Services Corp., which is seeking to add to its transitional housing in Juneau. (Gastineau Human Services Corp. photo)

Opinion: Housing shouldn’t be a political issue — it’s a human right

Alaska is facing a crisis — one that shouldn’t be up for political debate. Housing is not a privilege; it is a basic human necessity.… Continue reading

 

Josh Fortenbery performs a song written about Steven Kissack as three of his siblings, seated, listen during a memorial gathering Sunday at Marine Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Family, friends of Steven Kissack united from afar at memorial gathering after his death

Remembered as a youth who loved to read, dreamed of Alaska and kept giving even while on the streets.

 

Kaia Quinto, the new executive director of the Glory Hall, stands in the garden of the shelter and soup kitchen on Monday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Glory Hall’s new executive director hopes for a day when the homeless shelter is ‘underutilized’

Kaia Quinto says she shares predecessor Mariya Lovishchuk’s goal of more permanent supportive housing.

 

Maria Norman, 80, guides her wheelchair/walker toward the front patio space of the senior living building at the St. Vincent de Paul of Juneau complex on Teal Street on Saturday. About 30 Juneau residents visited the complex during the morning as part of a Friends of the Poor Run/Walk to raise money for the facility and its programs. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

A step at a time toward housing stability

Annual fundraising run/walk for St. Vincent de Paul Juneau highlights improvements, ongoing needs.

Maria Norman, 80, guides her wheelchair/walker toward the front patio space of the senior living building at the St. Vincent de Paul of Juneau complex on Teal Street on Saturday. About 30 Juneau residents visited the complex during the morning as part of a Friends of the Poor Run/Walk to raise money for the facility and its programs. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A Capital Transit bus makes its way downtown in August. The City and Borough of Juneau is considering a public transit bus to use as a winter warming shelter as it has received no bids to host a shelter. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City considers overnight warming bus for homeless during winter

Temporary option in discussion as city faces no prospects to host winter warming shelter.

A Capital Transit bus makes its way downtown in August. The City and Borough of Juneau is considering a public transit bus to use as a winter warming shelter as it has received no bids to host a shelter. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Cherish Ann Blake, 33, a lifelong resident of Juneau, sits under her A-frame staked out between thin trees holding up blue tarps at the Mill Campground on Tuesday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Sheltering homeless people this summer is hard — it may get worse come fall

No bids to host winter warming shelter could leave more than 70 people without a place to sleep.

Cherish Ann Blake, 33, a lifelong resident of Juneau, sits under her A-frame staked out between thin trees holding up blue tarps at the Mill Campground on Tuesday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Dave Ringle, executive director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Juneau, removes a face mask after exiting transitional housing Wednesday at the organization’s complex on Teal Street, where a public open day will be part of an annual fundraiser Saturday. The complex is in the midst of various upgrades and Ringle said the fundraiser is intended to help both the projects and provide direct aid to residents. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

St. Vincent’s seeking healthy recovery with fundraiser

Annual event comes as agency tackles long list of housing, other projects in wake of Covid crisis

Dave Ringle, executive director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Juneau, removes a face mask after exiting transitional housing Wednesday at the organization’s complex on Teal Street, where a public open day will be part of an annual fundraiser Saturday. The complex is in the midst of various upgrades and Ringle said the fundraiser is intended to help both the projects and provide direct aid to residents. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The boards of the Glory Hall and Juneau Housing First Collaborative are merging, aiming to complete the process by July 1. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Glory Hall and Juneau Housing First boards to merge

Users won’t notice any difference.

The boards of the Glory Hall and Juneau Housing First Collaborative are merging, aiming to complete the process by July 1. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Students from the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé honor society are holding a clothing drive for patrons of the Glory Hall from the high school every Wednesday.

Passing the hat: Students hold clothing drive for Glory Hall

The group came up with the idea to help out during the bitter winter.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Students from the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé honor society are holding a clothing drive for patrons of the Glory Hall from the high school every Wednesday.
People mill outside the Glory Hall on South Franklin Street on Wednesday, Oct. 7. The Glory Hall was one of four organizations in Juneau to jointly receive nearly $1 million in grant funding from the Alaska Housing Financial Corporation. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Four Juneau nonprofits receive grant aimed at curbing homelessness

The four organizations received nearly $1 million in grant funding.

People mill outside the Glory Hall on South Franklin Street on Wednesday, Oct. 7. The Glory Hall was one of four organizations in Juneau to jointly receive nearly $1 million in grant funding from the Alaska Housing Financial Corporation. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Construction of the new Glory Hall, above, is going smoothly, said executive director Mariya Lovishchuk on Nov. 24, 2020. (Courtesy photo / Thor Lindstam)

Building a brighter future: New Glory Hall reaches skyward

The structure is rapidly progressing, shouldering aside inclement weather.

Construction of the new Glory Hall, above, is going smoothly, said executive director Mariya Lovishchuk on Nov. 24, 2020. (Courtesy photo / Thor Lindstam)
The site of the future Glory Hall at the corner of Teal Street and Alpine Avenue in the Mendenhall Valley. Co-located will be the Southeast Community Services Center, forming and integrated campus, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Trust donates $150K to Juneau community services center

The structure will be a hub for many of Juneau’s community-oriented nonprofits.

The site of the future Glory Hall at the corner of Teal Street and Alpine Avenue in the Mendenhall Valley. Co-located will be the Southeast Community Services Center, forming and integrated campus, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
People sit outside the Juneau Arts & Culture Center on Tuesday, Sept. 15. The JACC is poised to serve as an emergency warming shelter through the first quarter of next year. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

City decides to keep emergency warming shelter where it is

Location extended to mid-April 2021.

People sit outside the Juneau Arts & Culture Center on Tuesday, Sept. 15. The JACC is poised to serve as an emergency warming shelter through the first quarter of next year. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File People mill outside the Glory Hall during meal distribution on June 25. The new Juneau Cares Program helps provide meals prepared by a local business to people in need.

Glory Hall eyes move forward as new food program starts up

The Glory Hall hopes to begin site prep on the new campus within months.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File People mill outside the Glory Hall during meal distribution on June 25. The new Juneau Cares Program helps provide meals prepared by a local business to people in need.
Photos by Peter Segall | Juneau Empire The Glory Hall is currently the only source for a meal for many Juneau residents experiencing homelessness, June 25, 2020. Executive Director Mariya Lovishchuk said that this is leading to friction with downtown residents and businesses, and she supports the Juneau Cares program, a program that pays local restaurants to help feed the homeless or food-insecure.

Program to feed hungry, fund restaurants trudging toward reality

The program could inject up to $1 million into local restaurants while feeding the most vulnerable.

Photos by Peter Segall | Juneau Empire The Glory Hall is currently the only source for a meal for many Juneau residents experiencing homelessness, June 25, 2020. Executive Director Mariya Lovishchuk said that this is leading to friction with downtown residents and businesses, and she supports the Juneau Cares program, a program that pays local restaurants to help feed the homeless or food-insecure.
Hands-on care: Homeless receive haircuts, food, help at community event

Hands-on care: Homeless receive haircuts, food, help at community event

More than 200 people experiencing homelessness received care today.

Hands-on care: Homeless receive haircuts, food, help at community event
A Cold Weather Emergency Shelter sign at St. Vincent de Paul on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019. The shelter is expected to open on Saturday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Winter weather is coming, and Juneau’s warming shelter is ready

The shelter will likely open this weekend.

A Cold Weather Emergency Shelter sign at St. Vincent de Paul on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019. The shelter is expected to open on Saturday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Scott Ciambor, chief housing gfficer for the City and Borough of Juneau and board chair for the Alaska Coalition on Housing and Homelessness, speaks at the Southeast Housing Summit at the Baranof Hotel on Wednesday, March 13, 2019. The summit is a two-day program organized by the Tlingit and Haida Regional Housing Authority. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

New housing summit looks at housing problems, solutions in Southeast

What’s being done and what resources are available?

Scott Ciambor, chief housing gfficer for the City and Borough of Juneau and board chair for the Alaska Coalition on Housing and Homelessness, speaks at the Southeast Housing Summit at the Baranof Hotel on Wednesday, March 13, 2019. The summit is a two-day program organized by the Tlingit and Haida Regional Housing Authority. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)