Many are offering help to those in need during these cold times

The Teal Street Center, which provides various social services, on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, one day after a homeless encampment along the street was removed by city officials. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)

By Kaia Quinto

The temperatures hover in the 30s, every day is darker than the next, and the cold is hard to ignore even while walking from a warm car to the warm office or house.

Clearly, the elements are not just a bummer for dozens of our unsheltered friends and neighbors. They are pervasive, life-threatening forces which combined with inner turmoil create a reality of constant anguish. It is easy to feel down during this time of year, but it is also important to take stock of everything good that the community is doing to address the issues of homelessness, hunger, and despair. While we must continue to work on improving the situation, it is helpful to take stock in everything being done already. This can help us, as a community, think about what to do next.

Housing and shelter are something many organizations are working on. Society of St. Vincent DePaul, St. Therese Conference (SVdP), offers 101 units of subsidized housing, spread over six buildings and a transitional family shelter. Together with the City and Borough of Juneau, SVdP operates the Warming Shelter. Their Home Visit Team aids hundreds of Juneau’s citizens. AWARE provides emergency shelter and a full array of services to people fleeing domestic violence and sexual assault as well as 21 units of housing, a myriad of community classes, trainings, and coordination. In addition, AWARE and Juneau Housing First Collaborative house people through the Continuum of Care program which pays rent for market apartments for income-qualified individuals over a period. 

Juneau Housing First Collaborative provides 99 units of housing, emergency shelter for 55 people, and a series of programs that help people to stabilize. This includes connection to critical services, which aid over 300 individuals annually, and a meal program which delivers over 60,000 meals per year. Family Promise Staff and Volunteers help to provide emergency shelter, homeless prevention, and rapid rehousing support to families with minor children. Alaska Housing and Development Corporation provides more than 100 units of family housing and helps operate the Juneau Land Trust. Additionally, they are building more housing every year.  Alaska Housing Finance Corporation provides housing, vouchers, and invaluable assistance to housing development all across Alaska. Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority tirelessly brings more housing to Juneau and to Southeast. The Tlingit Haida Central Council provides homes and non-congregate shelter facility programs. 

The City and Borough of Juneau’s Zach Gordon Youth Services operates Shéiyi X̱aat Hít, providing shelter, transitional housing, as well as scattered-site housing for young adults. This all includes excellent supportive services by their compassionate staff. These programs are also a partnership with THRHA. Gastineau Human Services provides housing to people in recovery, paired with services and mental healthcare. JAMHI Health and Wellness operates units of housing in addition to delivering critically needed services I will mention below. If you are interested in learning more about these wonderful organizations, please Google them.

It is important to note that all the housing units mentioned above, have been developed by the nonprofit entities themselves, including all coordination, planning and fundraising. In the last three years, the Juneau Community Foundation has organized the Juneau Nonprofit Developers Council to organize housing development efforts and ensure that Juneau can successfully compete for scarce housing development resources with other entities in the state and nationally. 

These housing and shelter services are paired with health care: While healthcare access could improve for everyone and there are long waiting lists for mental health services in our community, there are many bright spots. SEARHC through their Front Street Clinic and mobile services, provides wonderful primary care, case management, and mental health services, delivered on site at many of the above-mentioned organizations, offering among other help, assistance to individuals struggling with addiction. Bartlett Regional Hospital, Capital City Fire/Rescue and Mobile Integrated Health Unit offer an array of medical services and compassionate care. In addition to the housing mentioned above, JAHMI Health and Wellness assists members of our community with a variety of needs, as does Four A’s.

Concrete implementation of many critically needed solutions is ahead of us, more housing, perhaps smaller housing, a campground, improved access to rehab and mental health, achieving a manageable cost of living, and stronger community connections. While we continue to work hard on things that we need, it is important to reflect upon what we already have. Recognizing and being grateful for the tremendous work that has been accomplished and continues every day energizes me and makes the gray clouds seem lighter. 

• Kaia Quinto is the executive director of the Juneau Housing First Collaborative, which operates the Glory Hall.