During Tuesday’s meeting, the Anchorage Assembly approved homeless shelter contracts totaling over $18 million, funding both an existing and a new shelter. MASH Property Management LLC, owned by former Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, received the largest contract, worth approximately $11 million.
This funding will support a new shelter located at 1911 East 5th Avenue in a rented facility previously serving as a church and a strip club. Henning Inc., a seasoned operator managing several municipal shelters, received the second contract, valued at roughly $7.1 million.
That contract transfers management of the existing Col Weather Shelter on 56th Avenue from Catholic Social Services to Henning Inc. Henning’s Director of Strategy, Alexis Johnson, emphasized the organization’s commitment to people living unsheltered…