I, Bill Walker, Governor of the State of Alaska, under the authority of Article III, Sections 1 and 24, of the Alaska Constitution, and in accordance with AS 44.19.145(c), revoke Administrative Orders 214 and 236 and establish the Alaska Council on the Homeless within the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation.
Background and Purpose
Homelessness continues to be one of the most challenging domestic issues facing the United States. Alaska is no exception. The Alaska Council on the Homeless (Council) was initially established by Administrative Order No. 214 in April 2004, and supplemented by Administrative Order No. 236 in 2007. The Council’s statewide action plan addressing homelessness in Alaska underwent a five-year review and reframing in 2015, which led to the adoption of Alaska’s Plan to End Long Term Homelessness on October 13, 2015.
Membership
The Council consists of members appointed by the Governor, serving at the pleasure of the Governor. The Alaska Council on the Homeless is established with the following membership:
The Council membership includes one member from each of the following State entities: Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, Department of Health and Social Services, Department of Education and Early Development, Department of Public Safety, Department of Corrections, and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Additionally, the Governor may appoint eight public members, including two general public members and six members with experience and expertise in housing development or as consumers of affordable housing, such as persons associated with: the Alaska Federation of Natives or a similar statewide organization, a regional Native housing authority, municipal government, the Alaska Coalition on Housing and Homelessness or a similar statewide organization, the faith-based community, or an advocacy role.
The initial term will be for three years. Continued service of public members on the Council, beyond the initial term, will be subject to re-appointment by the Governor every three years.
The Council may invite to its meetings non-voting representatives from federal and local government agencies, the business community, providers of services to the homeless, philanthropic agencies, faith-based organizations, homeless advocacy organizations, homeless persons, and community leaders. The Council may elect a chair and other officers, as determined necessary.
Duties of the Council
The Council will:
- Meet at least twice a year.
- Request input and take testimony from the public and other interested parties on issues surrounding housing and homelessness, to be documented in an annual report to the Governor.
- Conduct research on the causes of homelessness, best practices related to addressing homelessness, and other issues or activities related to affordable housing and homelessness.
- Collaborate with local government, community partners, and service providers to implement Alaska’s Plan to End Long Term Homelessness.
- Establish collaborative partnerships across State agencies to coordinate services and resources for plan implementation, including strategies for housing stability, increased employment and income, and a focus on homeless subpopulations (including veterans, previously incarcerated persons, youths, and the chronically homeless.)
- Review homeless data to inform Council discussions.
- Monitor and review implementation of Alaska’s Plan to End Long Term Homelessness to include national best practices.
- Annually report to the Governor the Council’s findings and recommendations regarding implementation of Alaska’s Plan to End Long Term Homelessness and how state resources were and may be used to end homelessness.
Administrative Support
The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation shall provide administrative support for the Council. In accordance with law, the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation may enter into intergovernmental agreements necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Order.
General Provisions
The following general provisions apply to the activities of the Council:
- Council members do not receive compensation as a member of the Council. Per Diem and travel expenses for State and federal members of the Council are the responsibility of the State or federal agency the member represents.
- To reduce costs, the Council will use teleconferencing or other electronic means to the maximum extent practicable in order to gain the widest public participation at minimum cost.
- The Council shall establish procedures for voting and meetings of the Council.
- Meetings of the Council and all committees formed by the Council shall be conducted, and notice of the meetings provided, in accordance with AS 44.62.310 – 44.62.319 (Open Meetings of Governmental Bodies).
- All records of the Council and committees are subject to inspection and copying as public records under A.S. 40.25-100 – 40.25.295 (Alaska Public Records Act).
Administrative Orders 214 and 236 are revoked immediately.
This Order takes effect immediately.
DATED at Juneau, Alaska, this 15th day of May, 2018.
/s/Bill Walker
Governor
