Anchorage wants to send its homeless to warmer climates. What could possibly go wrong? (Metlakatla: buy, subsidized)

[prospectheightsresident]

Hawaii does the same thing, so it was interesting to see the pushback from officials here about this proposal.

[Arktikos]

Originally Posted by prospectheightsresident

Hawaii does the same thing, so it was interesting to see the pushback from officials here about this proposal.

Hawaii sends them only if they have a place to land in another state. In other words, someone to take them in.

[RayinAK]

Well, regardless of how one looks or feels about it there are only two ways, considering that most of these people are of adult age (the children are open for another discussion): The cheapest and fastest way, and the more expensive and long term way.

It's either taking care of the homeless as long as the Alaska's economy doesn't collapse, or to pass the problem-at least a portion of it-to other States. We can argue about these things until we turn green, but there is nothing else that can be done. This problem is common in all US States, although the places where the temperatures are milder, or where there is more financial support, tend to be more crowded.

Maybe Alaska can provide one-way airfare to any adult who wants to go to a warmer place...starting in November, and ending in February. The locations would be: Hawaii, CA (bay area, Orange County, and so on), Austin, OK, Salt Lake, and so on. All warm places.

~Just kidding.

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by RayinAK

Well, regardless of how one looks or feels about it there are only two ways, considering that most of these people are of adult age (the children are open for another discussion): The cheapest and fastest way, and the more expensive and long term way.

It's either taking care of the homeless as long as the Alaska's economy doesn't collapse, or to pass the problem-at least a portion of it-to other States. We can argue about these things until we turn green, but there is nothing else that can be done. This problem is common in all US States, although the places where the temperatures are milder, or where there is more financial support, tend to be more crowded.

Sure; why break tradition — everyone else has been carrying Alaska since before statehood. As far as "nothing else can be done," I'm pretty sure the 9th Circuit Court would disagree (and like it or not, Alaska is under that entity's jurisdiction).

I was in Anchorage several months ago and it was quite a hellscape.

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by Arktikos

Hawaii sends them only if they have a place to land in another state. In other words, someone to take them in.

This is how most of these programs work rather than just dumping them on wherever. Wonder how Anchorage's mayor would react if Phoenix and LA started shipping their homeless north to get them out of the heat.

[Metlakatla]

Oh for the love of god, it's just one sordid thing after another with this mayor.

https://www.propublica.org/article/a...-hall-scandals

At the end of June, Bronson shuttered the city’s COVID-19 emergency mass homeless shelter inside a sports arena and moved homeless residents to a far-flung campground in Northeast Anchorage.

Bronson refused to call the city’s sanctioned homeless campground an official part of Anchorage’s homelessness response. The administration provided no food and no supportive services. Nonprofits, service providers and volunteers scrambled to meet basic needs at Centennial Park Campground.

Black bears began raiding campsites regularly. Wildlife officials shot and killed multiple bears there.

Tf kind of trash does this?

City Hall employees said in interviews that Purchasing Director Rachelle Alger twice brought penis-shaped cookies to distribute at City Hall.

[Arktikos]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

Oh for the love of god, it's just one sordid thing after another with this mayor.

https://www.propublica.org/article/a...-hall-scandals
:

Yes it is. I imagine Bronson would pull a Vlad the Impaler trick on the homeless if only he could get away with it.

You know, invite them all to a lavish buffet, lock the doors from the outside and set the place on fire.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

Sure; why break tradition — everyone else has been carrying Alaska since before statehood. As far as "nothing else can be done," I'm pretty sure the 9th Circuit Court would disagree (and like it or not, Alaska is under that entity's jurisdiction).

I was in Anchorage several months ago and it was quite a hellscape.

I haven't been in Anchorage for a long time, but I have heard stories from friends who have been there recently that sound similar to what you have said above. Supposedly the whole thing is getting out of hand, specially when it gets colder.
https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/20...ss-population/

In 2022 in Anchorage, the survey showed there were 125 people living outside, or on the streets. 1,369 were found to be living in some type of shelter. Owen Hutchinson is with the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness. The organization’s research found up to 3,000 individuals in Anchorage access some type of homeless service every month. He says those services help a wide spectrum of people.

Alaska Natives make up about 15% of the state’s overall population, according to 2020 US Census data. According to numbers compiled by the Institute for Community Alliances (ICA) in August 2022, Alaska Natives represent over 40% of the homeless population in Anchorage.

Data collected by social service agencies throughout Anchorage in August of this year, and reported to ICA, looked at the racial makeup, finding whites made up 40% of the homeless population, with 15% being Black and about 10% being of either Hawaiian, Pacific Islander or Asian descent. The survey also found 8,000 individuals who needed additional housing-related services, whether it was a meal, job assistance or temporary shelter. Research conducted by Alaska’s News Source found that the number has remained consistent over the past six months, which has been keeping the limited number of service providers constantly busy.

[GotHereQuickAsICould]

Arranging travel for homeless people to somewhere else has been practiced for decades by all sorts of cities.

I worked on Crisis Intervention Teams for years in Alaska and later Minnesota. I can't tell you how many times we were sent to assess and assist someone who had just arrived to town. Some even had our phone number written on a scrap of paper, given to them by the social workers who arranged their bus or airline ticket.

In Minnesota, people regularly arrived from Milwaukee and Chicago "seeking services." In Alaska, they came from all over the place.

Greyhound Therapy.

[GotHereQuickAsICould]

For those who are wondering how this works, the homeless person talks of a relative or friend who would take them in if they could only get to wherever they are.

Or the homeless person needs services that are available in another state.

For example, during the time I worked in Minnesota, the state provided a small monthly check and Medicaid to disabled people who were disabled but not been yet been approved for SS disability benefits. It wasn't much, atone $700/month as I recall. But with subsidized housing, food stamps, and Medicaid, they could survive.

Wisconsin did not have such a program. If you lived in Wisconsin and were too disabled to work, you were SOL. So they were "guided" to Minnesota.