Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness

The Alaska Homeless Management Information System (AKHMIS) is a statewide database used by service providers serving people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. ACEH works with the Alaska Coalition on Housing and Homelessness to administer the system. Both coalitions have contracted with the Institute for Community Alliances (ICA) to act as the lead agency responsible for the system. ICA provides trainings and licenses for users of the system. During this reporting period, user and project growth of the system grew exponentially and Anchorage was able to get 90% of services using the database.

Coordinated entry is the service of connecting people in need of housing and support to the mainstream or specialized services that best meet their needs in the community. Staff assess individuals to determine their individual needs and identify program referrals. In this reporting period, thousands of people were assessed despite significant capacity changes in the community and case conferencing meetings were restructured.

The Continuum of Care (CoC) Program is designed to assist individuals including unaccompanied youth and families experiencing homelessness, and to provide the services needed to help such individuals move into transitional and permanent housing, with the goal of long-term stability. The program promotes community-wide planning and strategic use of resources to address homelessness; improved coordination and integration with mainstream resources and other programs targeted to people experiencing homelessness; improved data collection and performance measurement; and allows the community to tailor its programs to the particular strengths and challenges experienced at any given time. In Alaska, there are two Continua of Care, Anchorage (AK-500) and the Balance of State (AK-501). The Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness (ACEH) General Membership serves as Anchorage's CoC. Many organizations participate in ACEH from many different sectors working together on the community plan to end homelessness.