Housing

Due to a shortage of assisted living homes, some of Southeast Alaska’s aging residents can’t stay in their home communities.

The spirit of Route 66 is alive in a community helping homeless people rebuild their lives.

At Juneau’s Project Homeless Connect event, people were getting help in a number of ways.

There’s no dancing or passing the hat at these new rent parties. There is music — and online fundraising. Recently, a classical violinist played a concert in an Annapolis apartment to help the tenant.

Just after 8 a.m. Thursday morning, Anchorage homelessness coordinator Nancy Burke stooped toward a snowy tent in the woods, waking 58-year-old Duane English, who’s been camping in the area for the last month.

Anchorage’s real estate market has historically tracked closely to the price of oil. That trend has come apart over the last year, as the per barrel price has plummeted to record lows, but the city’s total assessed property values have continued on a modest climb upwards.

The Obama administration, in June 2014, challenged local governments to find a home for all veterans who want one by the end of this month. At least nine states and 850 municipalities tried to meet the goal, but Virginia and 15 municipalities were the only ones that succeeded.

Glory Hole Executive Director Mariya Lovishchuk says the funds raised Monday night, plus other donations, will close the shelter’s $58,000 deficit.

Utah has reduced its chronically homeless population by 91 percent since 2005. But like many places, it lacks affordable housing, leaving more than 14,000 people in the state homeless this year.

Shortly after the New Year, Deputy City Manager Rob Steedle will be the Director of Community Development and Human Resources Director Mila Cosgrove will move into the deputy city manager role.