The Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc. (RurAL CAP) will move forward to open Karluk Manor, a Housing First project to provide housing to 48 chronic public inebriates. On August 9, the Municipality of Anchorage’s Planning and Zoning Commission approved a conditional use permit to operate Karluk Manor. Karluk Manor will undergo several renovations, including the installation of an elevator, heated walkway, perimeter fence and landscaping. RurAL CAP expects to open Karluk Manor to residents in approximately six to eight months.

Melinda Freemon, RurAL CAP’s Anchorage Services Division Director, said, “Through the efforts of community members and the Mayor’s Homeless Leadership Team, RurAL CAP will be able to provide safe and secure housing for chronic homeless alcoholics while reducing the burden on the neighborhood and emergency services by opening Karluk Manor.”

Karluk Manor is a 48-unit housing residence to be located in downtown Anchorage. It will be the first Housing First facility in Anchorage. Housing First is a best practice whereby chronic inebriates are provided secure housing as the first step to self sufficiency and community reintegration. Housing First has been shown to increase the success rate of its residents for maintaining long-term housing and to reduce society’s cost burden in providing services and emergency response to this population.

A Housing First approach to homelessness differs from the traditional shelter-based response of homelessness by focusing on the root causes of homelessness rather than a reactionary response. A Housing First approach attempts to 1) prevent homelessness when possible and 2) provide permanent supportive housing to those who are homeless. A Housing First approach bypasses the traditional shelter-based model and moves a person who is homeless directly to permanent supportive housing.

RurAL CAP, a statewide, 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, has been working to improve the quality of life for low-income Alaskans since 1965.  RurAL CAP employed more than 850 people in 2009 with expenditures of over $26 million.  It provides resources and services to enhance child and family development, improve housing, reduce energy costs, develop leadership, protect traditional uses of fish and game, promote environmental responsiveness, support health and wellness, develop and assist with community plans, and foster independent living.

[Anchorage] - The Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc. (RurAL CAP) hosted a Housing First Community Forum at the Anchorage Senior Center on Wednesday evening, June 30, 2010. Over 160 members from throughout Anchorage convened to discuss the benefits of Housing First and heard how Karluk Manor is designed to bring a safe and economical solution to the problem of chronic homeless inebriates.

Kenny Scollan, RurAL CAP’s Anchorage Services Division Manager, provided a detailed project and operational update and Dennis McMillian, President/CEO of The Foraker Group, facilitated a question and answer period with community members about Karluk Manor.

Nancy Burke, Housing Planner of the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, described what Housing First is, and Sharon Chamard, President of Fairview Community Council provided the Fairview Community Council’s concerns and perspectives about the project. 

For more information on RurAL CAP’s Karluk Manor website, please visit www.supportkarlukmanor.com.

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[Anchorage] - Kodiak hosted its second consecutive Rural Providers’ Conference (RPC) of its two-year commitment on June 7-11, 2010.  The theme for the 27th Annual RPC was “Lighting the Lamp for Strength in Unity”, and was co-sponsored by the Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc. (RurAL CAP) and Kodiak Area Native Association (KANA). Over 200 people from throughout the state were greeted with a warm welcome and wonderful hospitality by KANA and its community partners.  Over 30 youth were also among the attendees for the youth track sessions.

RurAL CAP and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium are soliciting proposals for community environmental demonstration projects that are innovative and address approaches for enhancing human health and the environment of Tribal communities in rural Alaska. Funding is made possible through the EPA Alaska Tribal Multi-media Program.

Each agency will fund 5-6 projects beginning October 1^st of 2010, for one-year demonstration projects in the community or region.  Proposals must be submitted to, and received by, AJ Salkoski at RurAL CAP no later than 5pm on Sept. 9.  Pre-awards will be determined the following week.

If you have any questions about project eligibility, please contact AJ at 865-7353 or Desirae Roehl at ANTHC at 729-3496.

Please visit the following links to download more information:

http://www.anthc.org/chs/ces/hve/upload/Full-CEDP-Solicitation-2011.pdf (full version)

http://www.anthc.org/chs/ces/hve/upload/Summarized-RFP-2011-CEDP.PDF (summarized version)

On May 5, 2010, Ben Kanohokula Jr. received the statewide 2010 Ernie Turner Award at the State of Alaska’s Annual School on Addictions conference. The recipient is selected based on their contributions to the field of behavioral health, specifically in the area of addictions.  It is presented to a professional actively working in the field who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession of addictions counseling by demonstrating ethical standards, ongoing professional development, cultural competency, and interagency collaboration.  The person is an inspiration to those he serves.  Homeward Bound is an Anchorage Services Division program at the Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc. (RurAL CAP).


From left to right:  Robert Marx, David Hardenbergh, Melinda Freemon, Colleen Ackerman, Shanlyn Kanohokula, Ben Kanohokula, Diane Mathison, Mitzi Barker, Rachel Morse, and Sarah Scanlan

Ben was a student intern at Homeward Bound before being hired at Homeward Bound in 2007 as a Case Management Specialist. He was promoted to Outreach Coordinator in 2009. Ben jumped into a challenging position at Homeward Bound serving the chronic homeless alcoholic population. Ben’s current job responsibilities include: conducting street outreach, improving entry into Homeward Bound, maintaining a leadership role in community wide efforts to improve the system of care to the homeless, providing case management services, assisting participants with obtaining and maintaining permanent housing, and providing training and mentoring to students, other case managers and volunteers.

Prior to Homeward Bound, Ben worked as a counselor at the Salvation Army Clitheroe Center, where he continues to work on-call. Ben holds a Bachelor of Social Work Degree with honors recognition from the University of Alaska Anchorage in December 2008 and an Associate Degree in Human Services and Liberal Arts from the Honolulu Community College (HCC), where he was consistently on the Dean’s List.

Ben is a State Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor II and a certified instructor for the Crisis Prevention Institute. He has been a member of the Project Homeless Connect Committee in Anchorage since 2007 and has contributed to the ongoing success of the bi-annual Project Homeless Connects and homeless point-in-time surveys.

The Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc. (RurAL CAP) announces that in a unanimous vote of the Board, Andrew Ebona of Juneau was recently re-elected President of the Board of Directors for the fourth consecutive year.  Mr. Ebona, a well-known Alaska Native leader, will serve his seventh term as RurAL CAP Board President, bringing his extensive experience to a demanding leadership role.  A long-time member of the RurAL CAP board, Mr. Ebona also served as President in 1983, 2004, and 2006 through 2009.

Thanks to a partnership with the EPA, RurAL CAP engages five rural Alaskan communities each year in one year environmental demonstration projects to improve environmental and solid waste conditions.

In 2010, five communities were selected for project funding to support new recycling outreach programs, solid waste collection programs, and to begin a bale-fill program.

The Native Village of Eyak is performing a one-time enhancement of their recycling program.  Households in Cordova will receive separation containers for different kinds of solid waste.  The recycling collection containers for the community will also be retrofit to provide easier access for residents to drop off recyclables.

Chilkoot Indian Village is partnering with the Haines Friends of Recycling to create a model for recycling education outreach.  Outreach strategies will include public service announcements, working with youth in the community, and hosting workshops for community members.

Pedro Bay Village Council is creating a bale-fill project to reduce the amount of scattered litter, reduce the amount of human activity near the dump site, and to eliminate the need to burn waste.  Purchases for this project include a baler, a trailer for hauling trash to the landfill, and a large tarp to cover the bales.

The Native Village of Elim and the Nunakauyak Traditional Council are creating fee-based collection systems for their solid waste.  Purchases will include a vehicle and trailers to collect the solid waste for a nominal fee.  This will reduce the amount of human contact in and around the dump while enacting a level of sustainability to continue collection in the future.

RurAL CAP’s Board of Directors met with the Governor at the mansion during their March Board meeting in Juneau.  Board President, Andy Ebona, (far right), stated, “The Board appreciated the opportunity to visit with the Governor to discuss our many shared concerns, including early childhood education, public safety, domestic violence, health issues, high costs of living, housing, and more. We are grateful to Governor Parnell and First Lady Sandy Parnell for welcoming the Board into their home and the opportunity to discuss the many issues facing Alaskans.”

RurAL CAP is governed by a 24-member Board of Directors representing every region of the state and is one of the largest and most diversified organizations in Alaska. Click here for a complete listing of the RurAL CAP Board of Directors.