Anchorage Assembly to vote on $500K shelter contract increase as earlier amendments used Title 7 waivers

A congregate shelter contract with Henning, Inc. would rise by $500,000 to nearly $4.93 million under a measure the Anchorage Assembly is set to vote on Tuesday. Two earlier amendments were executed after the administration issued Title 7 waivers, bypassing Assembly review.

The contract began at $1,054,829 when the Assembly approved it on July 29, 2025. Amendment 1, approved by the Assembly on Dec. 2, 2025, added waiting-area language for clients and funded a winter surge response. Renewal Option 1 then extended the contract through Dec. 31, 2026. Amendments 2 and 3 were each executed after the administration issued Title 7 waivers.

The additional $500,000 covers January through April 2026, when the Anchorage Health Department says it needed to accommodate an increase beyond the 100-person maximum previously allowed in the shelter. The administration recommends approval. Grants and Contracts Administrator Valarie Clark noted in a June 12 memo that the amount falls below the 20 percent threshold that triggers Assembly review: "This amount is under the 20% that requires Assembly approval."