Interior Alaska Center seeks borough funds for housing-focused case management for survivors

Erin Morotti, executive director of the Interior Alaska Center for Nonviolent Living, asked the Health and Social Services Commission March 14 to fund housing-focused case management for survivors of domestic violence.

Morotti said IAC is the region's only 24-hour emergency shelter and advocacy center and reported recent service volumes: 637 unduplicated survivors served in the most recent fiscal year and 8,909 nights of emergency shelter. The agency requested $30,000 from the borough to support housing case managers who help survivors locate housing, complete rental applications, coordinate with landlords and provide short-term financial assistance for rent and deposits.

Morotti told commissioners the borough investment would leverage roughly $183,000 in additional federal and state funds under a braided funding model. Commissioners questioned minor inconsistencies in outcome figures (one slide showed 42 vs. 24), and Morotti acknowledged a transposed number and offered to provide corrected materials.

Kieta Lampkin, the program's case-management manager, described survivor-driven case management: services are voluntary, individualized and focused on each client's stated needs. IAC said it expects to support 42 individuals and help 24 households transition to stable housing under the proposed project.