Senior Center on Verge of Cutting Services

City increases rent

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By Alexis Fernandez

For many less fortunate senior who call Anchorage home, having a place to go when times are tough is crucial – but what happens when the organization itself is on the verge of cutting its services?

For 41 years the Mabel T. Caverly Senior Center in downtown Anchorage has been helping seniors with basic needs, like dental care and transportation. It’s a resource vital to thousands.

Every year, this is what brings together dozen

The center helps more than 3,000 elderly Alaskans with basic needs they sometimes don’t qualify for. But services at the center could be changing.

After paying the same amount in rent to the Municipality of Anchorage for more than nine years at this building, rent is expected to triple starting next year, from 7 cents per square foot to 25 cents for office space on this first floor, which it says will cost them just under $1,000 in rent.

The city increased rent to help offset utility and maintenance costs.

Assembly members say it’s well below the current market value for downtown office space. Those who work at the center say it’s one more added pressure.

Before the city ordinance is voted on by the assembly to increase the rent, it will first be put on the agenda for public hearing. This is scheduled to take place on January 17. Assembly members say they expect it to pass.

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Lois Turinsky said on Monday, Dec 19 at 7:55 PM

The Senior Center is and has been a blessing to many over the years but many times those blessings don't last for ever. I don't believe most Seniors have a "I deserve this" mentality and I do think most are grateful for the facility. We have to grow up and realize nothing is free...someone has to pay .If we can't afford it then we can't afford it.

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Lluna said on Monday, Dec 19 at 4:59 PM

while these old folks now have to worry about where their going to live, catholic social services is using tax payers money to bring " refugees" here and when they get here these "refugees" will again get tax payers money for a new place to live..

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discusted said on Monday, Dec 19 at 9:27 AM

Take benefits from the needy to benefit the wealthy, typical neo-con attitude

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YancyDancer said on Monday, Dec 19 at 9:18 AM

The younger generation could care less about the older people - the younger grew up in a generation of unions, hig wages and high stock dividends, unlike us born from in the 1930's to the 1960's. God Bless the child that were raised to be greedy, selfish, money grubbers.

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akrock said on Sunday, Dec 18 at 9:14 PM

Funny that the assembly member's own mortality is so far out of sight and mind that they forget one day they may need these services and unfortunately there won't be any because of their shortsighted decisions of cutting costs.

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don rickard said on Sunday, Dec 18 at 8:53 PM

In that same building exists the OLDER PERSONS ACTION GROUP, who would also have a trajectory now in peril? They sponsor the only adequate training for personal care attendants and certified nursing assistants which is affordable, and the provide the senior voice newspaper, and also conversational English sessions for all along with a cogent counseling staff for all questions from anyone.

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MAD DICK said on Sunday, Dec 18 at 8:52 PM

ONCE AGIN OLD PEOPLE SUFFER. GOD BLESS THE USA

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Lauren A said on Sunday, Dec 18 at 1:00 PM

It may be time for the center to move it's services to another lovation. perhaps to a small strip mall with a land lord in need of the rent. It should be a place that is easy to get to. Not all seniors drive and those who take a bus have trouble with bus routes, transfers and in the winter snow burms.All the best to the seniors who are in need. We should send the mayor and the city counsil a lump of coal

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Assemb said on Saturday, Dec 17 at 6:59 PM

Yes they should just raise our property taxes some more instead.

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Anonymous said on Saturday, Dec 17 at 6:46 PM

If thats the case we can only hope that Danny Boy and the Assembly members will need it one day and it wont be their

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geo said on Saturday, Dec 17 at 12:48 PM

the assembly members can vote themselfs a raise

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