Anchorage, Alaska, has launched a municipal addiction treatment program that pairs housing with addiction care through a microunit model, Alaska Public Media reported April 7.
The program, called Willow Commons, opened in late March and includes 32 individual units for people experiencing homelessness who need addiction treatment. Residents can move in the same day if units are available, and receive individual and group therapy, a case worker and life skills support.
Each unit is roughly 100 square feet and includes basic amenities such as a bed, hygiene kit, refrigerator and microwave. The site operates as a closed campus with 24-hour staffing, according to the report.
Compared to traditional residential treatment programs, Willow Commons has fewer restrictions, a program official told Alaska Public Media, including no set curfew. However, the facility maintains controlled conditions: Residents cannot leave the campus until they reach a certain phase of treatment; and visitors, drugs and alcohol are not permitted.
The program is voluntary, and timelines vary based on individual needs, with continued support after discharge to help residents secure housing and income.
The city funded the project using more than a million dollars from an opioid settlement to build the first two dozen units, with grant funding supporting the remaining eight. Officials said the model aims to address barriers to consistent outpatient care among individuals experiencing long-term homelessness.
Anchorage Recovery Center operates the program under contract with the municipality and will also provide outpatient services at another city facility currently under renovation.
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