Anchorage staff propose CDBG/HOME/ESG allocations, Perseverance Garden water line and supportive‑housing awards

Municipal staff briefed the Assembly Housing and Homeless Committee on June 17 about the 2026 HUD annual action plan and specific funding proposals, including a new community project request that would extend a water line to the Perseverance Garden in Fairview and recommended awards for supportive‑housing services.

Jed Role, community systems program manager for the Anchorage Health Department, said HUD allocations for 2026 are approximately: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) $1.788 million, HOME $616,000 and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) $166,000. Role said the public comment period closed May 29 and the assembly review was scheduled for June 23; HUD submission is due August 16 and staff expect to submit in July.

Staff recommended using a TBD capital line—totalling roughly $1 million in the draft AM—to extend potable water to the Perseverance Garden, a community garden currently hauling water in barrels. "This is a community garden that the community is very excited about, but this is a very impractical way to operate a community garden," Role said, describing the proposed municipal construction option.

On supportive housing, staff recommended awarding $1.35 million across five applicants (Rural CAP, Awake, Covenant House Alaska, Elliott Community of St. Paul Island and New Life Development) following a competitive RFP; agreements are on the June 23 assembly agenda and staff expect contracts to begin in July. Role noted one new grantee, the Elliott Community of St. Paul Island, would focus services on tribal members residing in Anchorage.

Staff also described a partnership with Alaska Housing Finance Corporation to create a homelessness‑set‑aside voucher program: municipal HOME funds ($250,000) combined with AHFC voucher funding ($250,000) could produce about 40 vouchers dedicated to people in shelter who are case‑management‑ready; HUD waivers to align rules are pending.

Director Rash and Role said staff are monitoring spend‑down requirements and that prior‑year unspent funds have been reallocated to development and pilot projects. The committee set aside time for public comment; no formal votes on these allocations were taken at the June 17 meeting.