by Rebecca Palsha
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- It's a controversial plan that would put 48 chronic inebriates in permanent housing in Fairview. Many are asking if it could save lives.
The Rural Alaska Community Action Program, or RurAL CAP, would be in charge of the project known as Karluk Manor. The group says it has made several changes that it hopes will ease the fears people in Fairview might have about the project.
"We will not be housing sex offenders at Karluk Manor. We will not be allowing violent offenders of any kind with a criminal background to be tenants there. We also increased the provision of meals of five days, twice a day, seven days a week," said Melinda Freemon, director of RurAL CAP.
Some wonder, in a community with about 7,500 people, whether Fairview is taking on too much.
"The question is, are we going to transition into a social-services ghetto, or are we going to transition into a neighborhood of choice people want to live in," said Sharon Chamard, president of the Fairview Community Council.
