Alaska Council on the Homeless

Summary

On April 30, 2004, Gov. Frank H. Murkowski established the Alaska Council on the Homeless through Administrative Order 214. He appointed a dozen members from state and federal agencies and charged them with preparing recommendations on how state resources could be directed toward ending homelessness.

img_rent_programs_akcouncil.jpgIn his Administrative Order establishing the Council, Gov. Murkowski identified the need to develop a statewide plan that would include short-term and long-term strategies to effectively address the problem of Alaska's homeless population. He said the development of the plan should serve to educate all Alaskans about the tragedy of homelessness and engage both governmental agencies and the private sector in finding solutions to this problem. The Council completed its mission in October 2005 by releasing the report "Keeping Alaskans Out of the Cold."

On May 1, 2007, Governor Palin reauthorized the Governor's Council through Administrative Order 236. She made it a more permanent council under the auspices of AHFC. The current Council membership includes AHFC, the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, the Alaska State Departments of Education, Public Safety, Corrections and Health and Social Services and six public members from the homeless provider community, rural housing authorities, local government and the real estate industry. The role of the Governors Council continues as a public policy forum for recommendations on the use of state and federal resources to address homelessness within Alaska.

Alaska Council on the Homeless Report

Reference Information