The Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska is working to finalize its plans for two transitional housing centers in the Lemon Creek area.<\/p>\n
“The fact is that those that have sober-supportive housing are going to do better,” said Talia Eames, Tlingit and Haida’s reentry and recovery manager, in a phone interview. “When they’re doing better, they’re not reoffending. And when they don’t reoffend, there aren’t new victims.”<\/p>\n
The two projects will host residents who recently exited the Department of Corrections. One is planned for the corner of Alaway and Glacier avenues. The other is planned for Allen Court.<\/p>\n
“We are really only working within the tight timeline CBJ has given us,” Eames said. “One of the big uses in a lot of places like this is keeping people out of congregate shelter.”<\/p>\n
The next step is for Tlingit and Haida to get the nod from the City and Borough of Juneau for the transitional housing. The tight schedule is owing to the need to use all CARES Act funding before the end of the calendar year, Eames said.<\/p>\n
“We have our conditional use permit meeting with the planning commission on Aug. 11,” Eames said. “Construction will begin after the conditional use permit is granted.”<\/p>\n
Tlingit and Haida plans to two constructs to rapidly and effectively use the CARES Act funding that’s supporting the project. If the project gets greenlit, Tlingit and Haida’s in-house contractor, Southeast General Contractors, will build the Allen Court location, while Alaska Commercial Contractors Inc. will build the Alaway Avenue location, Eames said.<\/p>\n
[Details on mandate change scarce, few changes for now]<\/ins><\/a><\/p>\n “Providing supportive housing and resources is actually a move for public safety,” Eames said in response to public concerns about siting the Alaway Avenue location in a residential neighborhood. “It’s the only way to impact recidivism.”<\/p>\n