22-010
Sullivan Arena COVID-19 Operations Conclude
June 30, 2022 (Anchorage) – Today, the Anchorage Health Department announced that COVID-19 shelter operations at the Sullivan Arena have concluded after more than two years of continuous use. The approximately 60 remaining clients were transferred to locations of their choosing throughout Anchorage, including the Aviator, the Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission, and the Centennial Campground where community partners are providing food, water, tents, and cots. Operations were completed without incident, and the health department is grateful for the many partners who showed up to assist.
“If there's one take away from this past six months, it's that the people of Anchorage care deeply about solving homelessness," said Anchorage Health Department Director Joe Gerace. “As of today, more than 500 units of housing and shelter are being utilized that did not exist prior to the pandemic, three navigation centers are in the works, and more than 200 shelter and substance abuse treatment beds are slated to open this fall. It's no exaggeration to say that this is the largest housing effort our city has ever seen since this crisis began."
At one time, the Sullivan housed more than 500 clients and was thought to be one of the largest congregate locations in the nation. Since last fall, hundreds of clients have been placed into permanent housing, with many of those placements occurring this month. While much work remains, the health department wishes to emphasize the tremendous work that has occurred in our community in past months to address this crisis:
- The GuestHouse now houses approximately 150 clients
- The Aviator now houses 233 non-congregate shelter clients in addition to 80 units of workforce supportive housing. Approximately 20 shelter rooms remain available. The administration has requested funding for the shelter beds portion of the facility through September.
- Complex Care (the former Sockeye Inn) now provides 83 beds for medically fragile clients.
- Three navigation centers are being stood up, including Covenant House's Covey Lofts, which will be operational in a matter of months, the municipality navigation center which will provide 150 shelter beds and open later this year, and the Third Street navigation center funded by Rasmuson Foundation and Weidner Apartment Homes which will open next year.
- A 62-bed treatment center run by the Salvation Army is slated to re-open later this year.
- The health department is preparing to offer stopgap navigation services until the municipal navigation center opens later this fall.
More information about homelessness in Anchorage can be found at www.muni.org/homelessness.
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Media contact: Tyler Sachtleben, AHD PIO, tyler.sachtleben@anchorageak.gov, 907-343-4670