Golden Lion Becomes Housing for Low-Income Residents

Bob Merrill, resident at the Golden Lion, attributes the availability of a new housing program in Anchorage to a humanity unique to its people. To him, it’s Alaskans helping Alaskans.

Bob first came to Alaska in 1977 on vacation and his independent spirit was captivated. He returned and enjoyed a varied career as a branch manager in the oil industry, a director of a non-profit organization, then spent 28 years at the Bureau of Land Management. He’s been retired for 12 years, but the disruptive forces of recent health issues led to life circumstances he would not have predicted for himself. A stroke, a broken leg, surgery, then wheelchair-bound, Bob returned home from the VA Hospital only to face eviction. He spent four months living in motels and staying with friends before living on the streets and relying on shelters. Finding a new place that would accommodate a wheelchair is a barrier that is difficult to overcome alone.

In July 2023, the Golden Lion opened its doors as transitional housing in Anchorage, part of a system that refers people experiencing homelessness to options beyond the city’s shelters as they become available.

This former motel has been given new life as an 80-unit, low-income transitional housing complex, complete with onsite property management and resident services. Where it once was a place where people checked in and checked out on a daily basis, it is now a community of residents remaining for up to one year.

“This is a place where people can be safe and get back on their feet so that they are ready to find permanent housing for themselves,” says Misty Meyer, Golden Lion program manager for Henning, Inc., the contracted property manager and on-site services provider.

Bob Merrill was thrilled to find a first-floor unit where he is able to recuperate and rebuild a cushion for a move-in deposit while searching for an apartment that meets his mobility needs.

“It’s hard to make it when you’re not in the best of health, but people watch out for each other here. I’m appreciative of that,” says Bob.

Strong Partnerships, Stronger Community  

Community partners, including Neighborworks, Catholic Social Services, Alaska Behavioral Health, and local shelters refer clients in need of housing to the Golden Lion. When an eligible tenant comes to Golden Lion staff, it works like a typical apartment rental walk-through with inspection, a review of the property rules, application submission and rental agreement for a single-room unit. The typical rental term is six or twelve months and all tenants pay rent. The goal is to support residents in their transition from cold-weather shelters and the streets to temporary housing at the Golden Lion, then to permanent housing. The Golden Lion offers resources and referrals for residents to work on budgeting and building credit, finding employment, replacing lost or outdated personal identification, ensuring that benefits are being appropriately directed and their health needs are addressed. It also gives them an opportunity to develop a landlord reference that will help them as a future tenant applicant and to find permanent housing.

Some residents are already making their way to life beyond temporary housing. “Many don’t need a whole year to accomplish their goals and get back on their feet. We had a resident move in just four months ago, who didn’t have a job and they were really struggling from their time living on the street,” says Misty. It was such a huge moment when they came to the property manager to say “I got an apartment!”. That is something Misty wants for everyone. “They were so proud of their accomplishment. People just need a minute to feel safe and begin accomplishing things.” 

Alcohol Tax Dollars At Work

A grant for $250,000 appropriated from alcohol tax dollar revenues provided the start-up costs for the building, including essential equipment and staffing through a contract with Henning, Inc., the onsite landlord-operator. There are always two staff members on shift, with one at the front desk to respond to needs or questions. The other staff person conducts perimeter checks of the property and make sure that the building is accessible in winter, safe, clean and functioning properly for tenants.

Building Resilience

With the framework in place, a community living atmosphere has taken hold at Golden Lion with well-being at its heart. Staff members Crystal Abbott and Ana Vanilau enjoy daily opportunities see tenants engaging with each other and connecting to onsite services and activities.

“The vibe is light and friendly here,” says Ana, who coordinates weekly services at Golden Lion. Alaska Neighborhood Health Clinic is onsite every Tuesday to help tenants with health services and triage. Regularly scheduled Learning Circles, provided by Southcentral Foundation, provide access to personal growth and behavioral health topics in a group setting. The community room provides space for onsite church services, weekly bible study and a regular bingo night.

The Golden Lion is a place for residents to move forward. “It’s really special to see people come through the referral system and begin landing on their feet,” says Crystal.

There is pride of place in how people keep their apartments and care about the community space. “One of the residents volunteers her time at Golden Lion, spreading gravel to keep elders from slipping in the winter. She left a history of domestic abuse and was stuck for years before leaving her home and staying in shelters. She had a fear of going out because of her past, but now she has her strength back and her confidence.” 

For those on a fixed income who have not been able to maintain a home, this is a great learning opportunity, and an important step before moving into a permanent apartment. All tenants have paid rent in full and on time.

The Golden Rule

Staff at the Golden Lion view their role as a blessing. “Residents are sisters, fathers, mothers, cousins and we would all want ours to be able to find this kind of help if they needed it,” says Crystal. While neighborhood life around the Golden Lion moves at its familiar pace, life within is full of change and promise.

The Golden Lion is already an important contributor to reducing homelessness in Anchorage, part of a vision to make homelessness rare, one-time, and brief. The staff at Golden Lion want to see as many people enter the program as possible because they know the kind of stability it is building.

As for Bob, he will be back on his own two feet soon and is looking forward to what comes next.