Anchorage Assembly to vote July 7 on $978K in safety-net grants

Nearly $978,240 in grants to fund services that prevent or alleviate serious hardship for Anchorage residents awaits an Assembly vote scheduled for July 7. Nine nonprofits serving homeless residents, domestic violence survivors, youth, food-insecure families, and single-parent families would receive funding under the Human Services Community Matching Grants program if the Assembly approves the package.

The money combines State of Alaska operating funds with municipal operating funds under Alaska Statute 29.60.600-620. The funding structure lists $759,556 in state appropriation and $218,684 in municipal operating funds for each fiscal year of the grant cycle. Both streams are conditional: the state share is subject to receipt and appropriation of the state award, and the municipal share depends on Assembly action. The grant period begins upon execution of the award agreement and runs through June 30, 2027, with one optional renewal year.

The Anchorage Health Department received eleven proposals, all determined to be responsive and responsible. A three-member evaluation committee scored them on May 4, 2026, after the request for proposals closed on April 16, 2026, recommending nine for funding in rank order until the available pool was exhausted. Catholic Social Services and Henning Inc. submitted responsive proposals but did not score high enough to receive funding.

The recommended awards:

• Bean's Cafe ($123,900) for meals for homeless residents

• Alaska Legal Services Corporation ($125,000) for pro bono legal services for families in crisis

• AWAIC, Inc. ($125,000) for emergency shelter and support services for domestic violence survivors

• Food Bank of Alaska ($125,000) for the 2026 Thanksgiving Blessing event

• Covenant House Alaska ($125,000) for temporary shelter and support at the Youth Engagement Center

• Rural Alaska Community Action Program ($125,000) for permanent supportive housing at Sitka Place

• STAR, Inc. ($106,575) for emergency financial assistance for survivors of sexual trauma

• Mountain View Hope Covenant Church ($43,890) for food distribution and resource connection

• New Life Development ($78,875) for housing and support services to single-parent families

The Anchorage Health Department has administered state Human Services Community Matching Grant funds for four decades, according to the Assembly memorandum submitted by Mayor Suzanne LaFrance.