Street outreach connects with those living outdoors

How do we reach our unsheltered neighbors? Street outreach! It's how we know who is unsheltered and where to find them. It's the way we build connection and trust with those who are sleeping in tents, vehicles and other places where no one should be living. With partners SALA Medical and Covenant House Alaska, we reach as many reported camps as possible to connect people with services every week.

These small but mighty teams do needed tasks, like visiting camps to help people get IDs and other documents required for apartment leases or jobs and making sure people are connected to the system that tracks needs and services. We never go empty handed and bring food and supplies. SALA handles first aid, treating wounds and minor injuries and preventing overdoses.

And they do the unexpected. Last winter, one person camping behind a ballfield was grieving the death of his beloved dog, whose remains were covered in plastic next to his tent. Mike Hill, our street outreach and housing navigation specialist, talked to the man and learned he wanted Rogue to be cremated so he could hold onto the ashes. Mike found someone to help pay for the service and was able to deliver Rogue's ashes and a pottery pawprint to the owner.

We estimate 500 or so people are unsheltered in Anchorage, and we getting to know as many of them as we can.

Street outreach played a leading role when we housed people from encampments through our Next Step housing collaboration. We coordinated timing with the Municipality of Anchorage. Our team matched everyone at two Anchorage encampments with housing and services that was right for them before the camp was shut down.

We are wrapping up our second summer of outreach, and we continue all year, even in the depth of an Alaska winter.

Want to help? Join us on alternating Monday evenings to assemble kits with food, first aid supplies, hygiene products and more for the team to give out during camp visits and popup events. Click here to learn more.

Pictured: Two of our team members, Michaela Franklin and Zach Zears, distribute food packs and other supplies and talk to people at an Anchorage camp.

Read Zach's recent essay on street outreach here: https://www.aceh.org/.../view-from-the-street-outreach...