Bethel council to vote Sept. 22 on paying utilities for Atsaq Place supportive housing

Water, sewer and solid waste service at Bethel's 24-unit Atsaq Place supportive housing would stay on the city's tab under a measure the Bethel City Council votes on Tuesday, Sept. 22. The same item would pay to buy and install a replacement water meter serving the Bethel Winter House overnight shelter.

City Manager Strickler brought the measure forward. It is on the regular agenda as an action item, not the consent agenda, so council members will take it up individually at the 6:30 p.m. meeting in Council Chambers at City Hall.

Atsaq Place is the permanent supportive housing operated by Bethel Winter House. A project narrative posted by design firm MRV Architects in March 2024 described it as creating "24 permanent residences for individuals overcoming homelessness," sharing support facilities and an existing elevator core with the shelter next door. The agenda item pairs Atsaq Place's utility payments with the shelter's meter replacement.

City support for the shelter is not new. Bethel Winter House posted in February 2017 that the city agreed to free water deliveries through March. The city's fiscal 2022 budget listed the shelter as a line item with contributed support and a utility benefit tied to staffing. The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation announced in December 2020 that the organization sought $1 million to acquire and renovate the old Senior Center for up to 32 clients experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The city donated the land and building.

Bethel Winter House describes itself as a grassroots nonprofit that depends on donations, volunteers and municipal support. Its guests and Atsaq Place residents rely on those utilities for sanitation and safe occupancy. None were available for comment before the vote.

Written public comment must be submitted through the city's website 24 hours before the meeting.