From the street to stable housing

HOME FOR GOOD (HFG) aims to help 150 of Anchorage’s most visible and vulnerable homeless residents  by connecting them with housing and support services.

THE CHALLENGE:  Hundreds of Anchorage residents experience persistent homelessness and disabling
conditions such as chronic mental or physical health issues, cycling through expensive emergency response systems including jail, hospitals, the safety center, and shelters¹. Research and other communities’ experiences demonstrate that supportive housing programs like Home For Good can break this cycle. By combining stable housing with robust, wrap-around services tailored to each person’s individual needs, supportive housing programs can put clients on a stable, sustainable path to improving their lives. The need for supportive housing was cited as one of the highest recommended priorities in an analysis of the gaps in Anchorage’s homelessness prevention and response system². Despite the promise of these programs, Anchorage has lacked the capacity and funding to provide enough supportive housing to meet the community need.

THE ANSWER:  In October 2020, Home for Good began its first year of services following a yearlong pilot. The goal is to build service capacity and to develop an innovative financial model to scale up to 150 clients. Emergency service outcomes are measured by comparing use in the twelve months before clients’ lease in Permanent Supportive Housing, and twelve months after their lease start date³.

The costly and personally detrimental cycle of expensive services was significantly reduced.

CURRENT STATUS:  As of Jan. 6, 2023, the project was providing services to 78 individuals; 67 in permanent housing and 11 working with Home for Good case managers to secure housing permanent housing. Another 22 participants have been referred to the program and are being contacted by case
managers. Home For Good has been extended through 2025. 

FINANCING:  Home for Good is the first project in Alaska to use a “Pay for Success” (PFS) financing model, which attaches unique fiscal accountability to public policy expenditures. Philanthropy pays to start the pilot and operate the first year of the three-year project. Years two and three are then funded by the Municipality, up to $4.5 million, as housing stability goals are achieved. If goals are not met or are only partially met, the Municipality only pays for what has been achieved, in accordance with the contract.

Home for Good has invoiced the Municipality a total of $1,758,000 for successful outcomes to date.

• • Home for Good – Part 1: Introduction to Home For Good
  • Home for Good – Part 2: Why Supportive Housing Works
  • Home for Good – Part 3: What Anchorage Stands to Gain

For a deeper dive to learn more about Home for Good, you’ll find more great resources here.

Please send all Home for Good inquiries to HFG.Info@ak.org.

• PROJECT MANAGERS

  • Municipality of Anchorage
  • Social Finance, Inc.
  • United Way of Anchorage
  • Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness

  FUNDERS

  • Alaska Community Foundation
  • Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority
  • Municipality of Anchorage
  • Rasmuson Foundation
  • Premera Blue Cross
  • Providence Alaska Foundation

  SERVICE PROVIDERS

  • Alaska Behavioral Health
  • CHOICES, Inc.
  • Southcentral Foundation