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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.
