April 24, 2020 – The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority Board of Trustees has approved a grant of $250,000 to the Fairbanks Rescue Mission in conjunction with the Fairbanks Housing and Homeless Coalition for their work to continue the successful MyPlace Housing Project, a Rapid Re-housing initiative in Fairbanks.
The MyPlace Housing Project, hosted by the Fairbanks Rescue Mission, works to quickly connect families and individuals experiencing homelessness to private market rentals. The project employs coordinated entry, landlord engagement, case management, and tapering financial support to transition program participants quickly from homelessness to becoming independent tenants and thriving members of the community.
This Trust grant investment with the Fairbanks Rescue Mission compliments other Trust and partner supported efforts addressing homelessness in Fairbanks. Earlier this year the Trust granted $125,000 to two Fairbanks-based partners for initiatives to address homelessness: Love INC, Fairbanks for their Fairbanks Prevention and Diversion Project ($50,000), and the Interior Alaska Center for Non-Violent Living for the Fairbanks Homeless Encampment Service Delivery project ($75,000).
The Trust understands that Housing is a critical component in the continuum of care for beneficiaries, and has supported a number of housing initiatives across the state. The Trust grants, on average, $20 million a year to Alaska organizations that serve Trust beneficiaries, including various nonprofits, state agencies, and projects that promote long-term system change and/or innovative projects that improve the lives and circumstances of Trust beneficiaries.