Housing – Page 3 – City and Borough of Juneau

Ad Hoc Committee on Homelessness meets Oct. 8 at 3 p.m.

The Juneau Assembly has brought together members from Juneau’s social service agencies and City and Borough of Juneau staff to be part of an Ad Hoc Committee on Homelessness. With the COVID-19 pandemic placing additional pressure on individuals experiencing homelessness and the agencies that serve them, the committee’s goal is to coordinate what services are needed and how those services are being provided. The Ad Hoc Committee on Homelessness has its first meeting Thursday, October 8, at 3 p.m. Join the meeting on Zoom https://juneau.zoom.us/j/95545247449 or call 1-346-248-7799 with Webinar ID 955 4524 7449.

Committee members are Marla Berg, The Glory Hall; Bruce Denton, The Glory Hall; Mariya Lovishchuk, The Glory Hall; Chris Gianotti, St. Vincent de Paul; Jackie Bryant, St. Vincent de Paul; Dave Ringle, St. Vincent de Paul; Katti Carlson, Family Promise; Dave Branding, JAMHI Health & Wellness; Jackie Pata, Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska; Mandy Cole, AWARE; Assemblymember Wade Bryson (chair), Assemblymember Michelle Hale, City Manager Rorie Watt, and CBJ Chief Housing Officer Scott Ciambor. Read the committee’s charging document here and read a memo on the committee from Mayor Beth Weldon here.

Tomorrow’s October 8 committee meeting will include public comment toward the end of the meeting. Members of the public will be limited to 2 minutes per speaker. To provide comment, click the “Raise Hand” button on Zoom during the meeting or press *9 on the phone.

The committee has future meetings scheduled for October 15 and 22. Join the meeting on Zoom https://juneau.zoom.us/j/95545247449 or call 1-346-248-7799 with Webinar ID: 955 4524 7449.

For more information, contact CBJ Homelessness Coordinator Jesse Perry at 586-0623 or [email protected], or visit the CBJ housing website at: juneau.org/housing.

October 7th, 2020|

Assembly to discuss potential building purchase for a shelter at Sept. 14 committee meeting

The Juneau Assembly will discuss options surrounding the potential purchase of a building to provide space for a cold weather shelter at tonight’s Committee of the Whole meeting at 5 p.m. Watch the meeting live https://juneau.zoom.us/j/91978199320, or call 1-346-248-7799 or 1-929-436-2866 or 1-301-715-8592 and enter Webinar ID 919 7819 9320. The meeting will also be on Facebook Live and can be viewed later. See the full agenda packet here.

The City and Borough of Juneau originally issued a building solicitation proposal on July 14 with a July 28 deadline. The solicitation period was then reopened on August 19 with an August 26 deadline. On September 9, CBJ staff facilitated a public meeting to provide information on the possible building acquisition and get feedback from the community. Approximately 90 viewers attended the Zoom meeting with 27 people providing public comment. These comments, as well as correspondence sent directly to staff, has been compiled and included in the agenda item. Additionally, copies of a brief survey for shelter users were delivered to the shelter operators and the campground.

See a list of potential sites, building solicitation responses, the September 9 presentation to the community, the building solicitation matrix, and other information on the issue on CBJ’s Housing Program webpage.

For more information, contact City Manager Rorie Watt at 586-5240 or [email protected].

September 14th, 2020|

CBJ explains process for potential building acquisition for shelter at Sept. 9 public meeting

The City and Borough of Juneau is considering the purchase of a building to provide space for a cold weather shelter using federal CARES Act funding. Learn about the process during a virtual public information meeting on Wednesday, September 9, at 5 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to provide information to the public and get feedback on proposed sites. Comments from community members are welcome. CBJ has not determined which site is most suitable and not purchasing a building at all remains an option.

CBJ issued a building solicitation proposal on July 14 with a July 28 deadline. The solicitation period was then reopened on August 19 with an August 26 deadline. Potential sites for consideration include:

201 Cordova Street
1720 Crest Street (JMA building)
1108 F Street (Bill Ray Center)
247 Franklin Street (Glory Hall)
1711 Glacier Ave (Breakwater Inn)
224 Seward Street (Sommers Building)
435 Willoughby Ave (Driftwood Hotel)
535 Willoughby Ave (warehouse building)
Continuing to use the former armory building in Downtown Juneau
No site

The September 9 public information meeting will be conducted virtually with video and telephonic participation only. Join the Zoom webinar https://juneau.zoom.us/j/94264788341 and enter Webinar ID 942 6478 8341. To participate telephonically, call 1-346-248-7799 or 1-669-900-6833 or 1-253-215-8782 or 1-312-626-6799 and enter Webinar ID 942 6478 8341. During the public comment portion of the meeting, community members can provide testimony by clicking the “Raise Hand” function on the Zoom webinar or pressing *9 on the telephone.

If you’re unable to attend the meeting but have comments, contact Chief Housing Officer Scott Ciambor at 586-0220 or [email protected].

For more information, contact Chief Housing Officer Scott Ciambor at 586-0220 or [email protected].

September 1st, 2020|

CBJ extends COVID-19 short-term rental assistance program through Dec. 31

Through the COVID-19 Short-Term Rental Assistance Program, the City and Borough of Juneau aims to assist households where a member has lost their job due to COVID-19 and are unable to meet rent. CBJ has extended the program through December 31, 2020, making funding from the federal CARES Act available to assist qualifying workforce housing renters.

Key components of the program include:

A focus on households where a member has lost their job and are unable to meet rent;
Income limits up to 120% of the area median income (AMI) to include workforce housing; and
Program to cover rent only (no damages, down payment, utilities, late fees etc.)

This program developed in partnership with the Juneau Community Foundation, Gastineau Human Services, and Alaska Housing Development Corporation (AHDC), which manages the program.

To learn more or to apply for the rental assistance program, contact Program Coordinator Shari Partin with AHDC at 780-4475. Review the application here.

Go to CBJ’s COVID-19 Housing Resources webpage for other helpful information, like eviction prevention guidance for at-risk tenants.

August 20th, 2020|

CBJ continues search for building to house cold weather emergency shelter

In July, the City and Borough of Juneau informed the public it was considering the purchase of a building to provide space for a cold weather emergency shelter. CBJ solicited letters of interest and details on real property, and received three offers from the owners of the Bill Ray Center, the Driftwood Hotel, and the Breakwater Inn. As the city continues to work out next steps, no decision has been made on the previous applicants and CBJ is reopening the solicitation period.

“This is an open and deliberative process, and we had interest and questions from other building owners and neighborhood representatives. The goal is to make the best decision for the community, balancing a wide array of issues. All potential solutions – including potentially not purchasing a building – should be considered,” City Manager Rorie Watt said.

Letters of interest and details on real property are due by 4:30 p.m. Alaska Time on Wednesday, August 26. The acquisition of property must meet standards in CBJ code (53.04.020) and have a price that does not exceed fair market value. For intended use as a cold weather shelter, desired properties should include the following:

Flexible room space capable of housing 30-50 individuals in a congregate or non-congregate manner; dormitory spacing that meets public health standards or single room spaces;
Adequate amenities, including ADA accessible bathrooms and showers;
Open reception or entry areas; and
Indoor storage for supplies and guest items.

Interested parties are asked to submit a letter of interest and include the following property details for consideration: address, assessor’s tax parcel number, current owner of record, name of property, brief description, current use and zoning, assessed value, and date of last appraisal.

Again, letters of interest and property details are due by 4:30 p.m. Alaska Time on Wednesday, August 26. Details can be sent to Chief Housing Officer Scott Ciambor, City and Borough of Juneau, 155 S. Seward Street Juneau, Alaska 99801 or emailed to [email protected].

For more information, contact Chief Housing Officer Scott Ciambor at 586-0220 or [email protected].

August 19th, 2020|